The sky puts on the darkening blue coat
held for it by a row of ancient trees;
you watch: and the lands grow distant in your sight,
one journeying to heaven and one that falls;
and leave you not at home in either one,
not quite so still and dark as the darkened houses,
not calling to eternity with the passion
of what becomes a star each night, and rises;
and leave you (inexpressibly to unravel)
your life, with its immensity and fear,
so that, now bounded, now immeasurable,
it is alternately stone in you and star.
Rainer Maria Rilke, Evening
(translation by Stephen Mitchell)
held for it by a row of ancient trees;
you watch: and the lands grow distant in your sight,
one journeying to heaven and one that falls;
and leave you not at home in either one,
not quite so still and dark as the darkened houses,
not calling to eternity with the passion
of what becomes a star each night, and rises;
and leave you (inexpressibly to unravel)
your life, with its immensity and fear,
so that, now bounded, now immeasurable,
it is alternately stone in you and star.
Rainer Maria Rilke, Evening
(translation by Stephen Mitchell)
Rainer Maria Rilke's lyrical hymn to twilight is surely one of the most magnificent poems ever written, and it is one I never tire of reading - it speaks to me in a way that very few other poems ever do.
5 comments:
I am so glad you are such a knowledgeable person about poetry and literature...I always get something new and lovely to savor.
Just lovely - such a gift. Mahalo!
What a gorgeous photo - the lighting is simply stunning!
Magnificent beauty of word and vision.
Much love and great big hugs.
magnolia
Thank you for sharing it. I didn't know this poem--it's wonderful. I especially like the last line about the stone and star.
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