RILKE | December: Figures from Interior Space
RILKE | December: Figures from Interior Space
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"She followed slowly and she / took a long time as if something were still left / to transcend; and yet: as if, after the transition, she would no longer walk, but fly." from the Second Part of the New Poems, by Rainer Maria Rilke This week, an image of Water Drops on Plastic. Also: two new translations from the German.
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Übung am Klavier Der Sommer summt. Der Nachmittag macht müde; sie atmete verwirrt ihr frisches Kleid und legte in die triftige Etüde die Ungeduld nach einer Wirklichkeit, die kommen konnte: morgen, heute abend—, die vielleicht da war, die man nur verbarg; und vor den Fenstern, hoch und alles habend, empfand sie plötzlich den verwöhnten Park. Da brach sie ab; schaute hinaus, verschränkte die Hände; wünschte sich ein langes Buch— und schob auf einmal den Jasmingeruch erzürnt zurück. Sie fand, daß er sie kränkte. aus: Der neuen Gedichte anderer Teil |
Piano Practice The drone of summer. The fatigue of afternoon; she airs confusedly her new dress and places in the thoughtful etude all the anxious waiting for a world that might come: tomorrow, this evening—, that was perhaps already there, only hidden; facing the window, high and all consuming the meticulous garden suddenly came to her. Then she stopped; looking outside, folding her hands, wishing she had a thick book— and all at once she pushed the jasmine bouquet, angered, aside. She found, that it made her ill. from: New Poems, the other Part. |
| view / print RilkeCards: Piano Practice |
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Die Erblindende Sie saß so wie die anderen beim Tee. Mir war zuerst, als ob sie ihre Tasse ein wenig anders als die andern fasse. Sie lächelte einmal. Es tat fast weh. Und als man schließlich sich erhob und sprach und langsam und wie es der Zufall brachte durch viele Zimmer ging (man sprach und lachte), da sah ich sie. Sie ging den andern nach, verhalten, so wie eine, welche gleich wird singen müssen und vor vielen Leuten; auf ihren hellen Augen die sich freuten war Licht von außen wie auf einem Teich. Sie folgte langsam und sie brauchte lang als wäre etwas noch nicht überstiegen; und doch: als ob, nach einem Übergang, sie nicht mehr gehen würde, sondern fliegen. aus: Neue Gedichte (1907) |
A Woman Going Blind She sat there like the others with their tea. It seemed to me, as if she held her cup slightly differently than the others. She laughed once. It was almost painful. And when they finally stood up and spoke and slowly walked as Chance would have it through the many rooms (one spoke and laughed), there I saw her. She went behind the others in the manner of one who must shortly sing and that for a large group of people; upon her bright eyes, full of happiness, fell light from outside as if on a pool. She followed slowly and she took a long time as if something were still left to transcend; and yet: as if, after the transition, she would no longer walk, but fly. from: New Poems (1907) (tr. Cliff Crego) |
| view / print RilkeCards: A Woman Going Blind |
| view / print Picture/Poem Poster: Going Blind (86 K) |
| see also the Rilke Posters |
| listen to other recordings in English and German of twelve poems from
The Book of Images at The Rilke Download Page (# Includes instructions) |
See also other recent additions of new English translations of Rilke's poetry, together with
featured photographs at:
(17) October: Fall Ice, Mountain Spring
(16) October: Fall Starlings and a Poplar Tree
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See also another website by Cliff Crego: The Poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke |
a presentation of 80 of the best poems of Rilke in both German and new English translations: biography, links, posters |
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See also: new |
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"Straight roads, Slow rivers, Deep clay." |
A collection of contemporary Dutch poetry in English translation, with commentary and photographs by Cliff Crego |
