RILKE | February: Winter Fountains
RILKE | February: Winter
Fountains
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"...That has learned to walk / on water when it scoops, that walks upon springs, transformer of all ways.." from Palm of the Hand, by Rainer Maria Rilke This week, an image of Winter Fountains, Also: three new translations from the German.
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The guest poems for this week are three new English
translations from the work of the German
language poet,
Rainer
Maria Rilke (from the
Rilke website, a concise hyperlinked biography).
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O
schöner Glanz des scheuen Spiegelbilds! Wie darf es glänzen, weil es nirgends dauert. Der Frauen Dürsten nach sich selber stillts. Wie ist die Welt mit Spiegeln zugemauert für sie! Wir fallen in der Spiegel Glanz wie in geheimen Abfluß unseres Wesens; sie aber finden ihres dort: sie lesens. Sie müssen doppelt sein, dann sind sie ganz. Oh, tritt, Geliebte, vor das klare Glas, auf daß du seist. Daß zwischen dir und dir die Spannung sich erneue und das Maß für das, was unaussprechlich ist in ihr. Gesteigert um dein Bild: wie bist du reich. Dein Ja zu dir bejaht dir Haar und Wange, und überfüllt von solchem Selbstempfange, taumelt dein Blick und dunkelt im Vergleich. (1924) |
O
beautiful sheen of the shy
mirror image! How it may shine, for nowhere does it last. Women thirst for that which only they can satisfy. How the world has been enclosed with mirrors for them! We fall into the mirror's luster like a secret draining away of our being; Women however find theirs: they read it there. They must be two, only then they are whole. Oh, step then, beloved, in front of the clear glass, upon which you are. That the tension may be renewed between you and yourself, and the measure for that which in her is yet unsayable. Rising above your image: how rich you are. Your yes to yourself affirms both cheek and hair, and overflowing with such self-reception, your gaze reels and darkens in its likeness. (all tr. Cliff Crego) |
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Unstete
Waage des Lebens |
Inconstant
scales of Life, |
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Handinneres Innres der Hand. Sohle, die nicht mehr geht als auf Gefühl. Die sich nach oben hält und im Spiegel himmlische Straßen empfängt, die selber wandelnden. Die gelernt hat, auf Wasser zu gehn, wenn sie schöpft, die auf den Brunnen geht, aller Wege Verwandlerin. Die auftritt in anderen Händen, die ihresgleichen zur Landschaft macht: wandert und ankommt in ihnen, sie anfüllt mit Ankunft. (1924) |
Palm of the Hand Palm of the hand. Sole, that no longer walks but on feeling. That holds itself upward and in its mirror receives heavenly roads, that themselves have journeyed far. That has learned to walk on water when it scoops, that walks upon springs, transformer of all ways. That steps into other hands, turning into landscape those that are its likeness: wanders and arrives in them, and fills them with arrival. (all tr. Cliff Crego) |
New English translations
from the German of 80
of Rainer Maria Rilke's
best poems, together
with 120 color prints
from the High Wallowas.
With introduction . . .
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| preview opens in new window |
| about RILKE IN THE WALLOWAS |
| view / print Picture/Poem Poster: The Scales (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:
(21) January: Winter Ribbons
(20) December: Clear Water, Smooth Granite and the Flow of Compassion
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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 |
