There's probably something lost in the translations, as good as they are, which you wouldn't get for an English poet of course for us. When I read Yeats, for instance, I'm right there, whereas Rilke's voice seems somehow distant.
One of my very favorite poets, I have used extracts from Duino Elegies as epigraphs for many of my novels, especially those of Kristen-Seraphim. An example comes from volume 6, whose theme is lament:
It’s a long way. We live out there . . .… Where? And the young man follows.
Roused by the way she moves. Her shoulder, her neck— –
Maybe she comes from a splendid race. But he leaves her,
Goes back, turning to wave . . .… What’s the use? She’s just a Lament.
Only those who’ve died young in their first state of timeless calm
—- their weaning— – follow her lovingly. She waits for young girls
and befriends them. Gently she shows them what she wears.
Pearls of pain and the fine-spun veils of patience.
I’ve tried to find which poem I used at our wedding, but I’ve had little luck! Mostly because I really don’t remember - combined with a lack of time to search. An amazing poet, but Coleridge still remains my all-time favourite!
There's probably something lost in the translations, as good as they are, which you wouldn't get for an English poet of course for us. When I read Yeats, for instance, I'm right there, whereas Rilke's voice seems somehow distant.
One of my very favorite poets, I have used extracts from Duino Elegies as epigraphs for many of my novels, especially those of Kristen-Seraphim. An example comes from volume 6, whose theme is lament:
It’s a long way. We live out there . . .… Where? And the young man follows.
Roused by the way she moves. Her shoulder, her neck— –
Maybe she comes from a splendid race. But he leaves her,
Goes back, turning to wave . . .… What’s the use? She’s just a Lament.
Only those who’ve died young in their first state of timeless calm
—- their weaning— – follow her lovingly. She waits for young girls
and befriends them. Gently she shows them what she wears.
Pearls of pain and the fine-spun veils of patience.
With young men she walks along in silence.
Huh, no doubt.
I’ve tried to find which poem I used at our wedding, but I’ve had little luck! Mostly because I really don’t remember - combined with a lack of time to search. An amazing poet, but Coleridge still remains my all-time favourite!
Rilke is going on my reading list. Thanks for the suggestion!
I have a playlist suggestion - Törr! Based on the “old country” music my family listened to, I had no idea there were Czech thrash metal bands!
The sound is similar to Rammstein, but the band has been together since Til Lindemann was in grammar school.
Hope you like him - he’s very interesting! And I will be checking out Törr - you got me at Czech thrash metal!
Oh Bryan, I don’t know where you find these crazy videos! This one was really out there.
The farther I fall down any given rabbit hole, the stranger they become!