All who seek you
test you.
And those who find you
bind you to image and gesture.
I would rather sense you
as the earth senses you.
In my ripening
ripens
what you are.
I need from you no tricks
to prove you exist.
Time, I know,
is other than you.
No miracles, please.
Just let your laws
become clearer
from generation to generation.
R.M. Rilke ” The Book of Hours” 2.15
Alle, welche dich suchen
Alle, welche dich suchen, versuchen dich.
Und die, so dich finden, binden dich
an Bild und Gebärde.
Ich aber will dich begreifen
wie dich die Erde begreift;
mit meinem Reifen
reift
dein Reich.
Ich will von dir keine Eitelkeit,
die dich beweist.
Ich weiß, dass die Zeit
anders heißt
als du.
Tu mir kein Wunder zulieb.
Gieb deinen Gesetzen recht,
die von Geschlecht zu Geschlecht
sichtbarer sind.
Das Buch vom mönchischen Leben / 15
Rainer Maria Rilke, 19.9.1901, Westerwede
The Living Room 
Who could not love Rilke? He seems to be a master of the two dimensions. A humble one at that.
Of course I know nothing about him really….only his name, but I am very tempted to look into his life and works. Maybe I will find that I have read some? He feels so familiar.
Thank you.
Rilke’s depth of poetry is incredible. How is your German? I love Rilke, but I have yet to see a translation that is coming close to the beauty of the original. I think it has to do with mono-syllabic English. Same with Goethe…to translate poetry..thats difficult.
Just thought I’d comment on your post – as I thought you might be interested that I’ve released an album called “Widening Circles”. I have become totally smitten by Rilke and so the album features the english translation of a handful of the poems from the Book of Hours set to my compositions.
You can watch a short film of the recording process
here ==> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIkfYDRLuls
You can have a listen to the album to see if you like it
here ==> http://www.thepoatinatree.com.au
thanks
Spike
Its really beautiful…thank you