I live my life in circles that grow wide
And endlessly unroll,
I may not reach the last, but on I glide
Strong pinioned toward my goal.
About the old tower, dark against the sky,
The beat of my wings hums,
I circle about God, sweep far and high
On through milleniums.
Am I a bird that skims the clouds along,
Or am I a wild storm, or a great song?
*
Many have painted her. But there was one
Who drew his radiant colours from the sun.
Mysteriously glowing through a background dim
When he was suffering she came to him,
And all the heavy pain within his heart
Rose in his hands and stole into his art.
His canvas is the beautiful bright veil
Through which her sorrow shines. There where the
Texture o'er her sad lips is closely drawn
A trembling smile softly begins to dawn ...
Though angels with seven candles light the place
You cannot read the secret of her face.
*
In cassocks clad I have had many brothers
In southern cloisters where the laurel grows,
They paint Madonnas like fair human mothers
And I dream of young Titians and of others
In which the God with shining radiance glows.
But though my vigil constantly I keep
My God is dark — like woven texture flowing,
A hundred drinking roots, all intertwined;
I only know that from His warmth I'm growing.
More I know not: my roots lie hidden deep
My branches only are swayed by the wind.
*
Thou Anxious One! And dost thou then not hear
Against thee all my surging senses sing?
About thy face in circles drawing near
My thought floats like a fluttering white wing.
Dost thou not see, before thee stands my soul
In silence wrapt my Springtime's prayer to pray?
But when thy glance rests on me then my whole
Being quickens and blooms like trees in May.
When thou art dreaming then I am thy Dream,
But when thou art awake I am thy Will
Potent with splendour, radiant and sublime,
Expanding like far space star-lit and still
Into the distant mystic realm of Time.
*
I love my life's dark hours
In which my senses quicken and grow deep,
While, as from faint incense of faded flowers
Or letters old, I magically steep
Myself in days gone by: again I give
Myself unto the past: — again I live.
Out of my dark hours wisdom dawns apace,
Infinite Life unrolls its boundless space ...
Then I am shaken as a sweeping storm
Shakes a ripe tree that grows above a grave
'Round whose cold clay the roots twine fast and warm —
And Youth's fair visions that glowed bright and brave,
Dreams that were closely cherished and for long,
Are lost once more in sadness and in song.
The Book of Pilgrimage
By day Thou are the Legend and the Dream
That like a whisper floats about all men,
The deep and brooding stillnesses which seem,
After the hour has struck, to close again.
And when the day with drowsy gesture bends
And sinks to sleep beneath the evening skies,
As from each roof a tower of smoke ascends —
So does Thy Realm, my God, around me rise.
*
All those who seek Thee tempt Thee,
And those who find would bind Thee
To gesture and to form.
But I would comprehend Thee
As the wide Earth unfolds Thee.
Thou growest with my maturity,
Thou Art in calm and storm.
I ask of Thee no vanity
To evidence and prove Thee.
Thou Wert in eons old.
Perform no miracles for me,
But justify Thy laws to me
Which, as the years pass by me.
All soundlessly unfold.
*
In a house was one who arose from the feast
And went forth to wander in distant lands,
Because there was somewhere far off in the East
A spot which he sought where a great Church stands.
And ever his children, when breaking their bread,
Thought of him and rose up and blessed him as dead.
In another house was the one who had died,
Who still sat at table and drank from the glass
And ever within the walls did abide —
For out of the house he could no more pass.
And his children set forth to seek for the spot
Where stands the great Church which he forgot.
*
Extinguish my eyes, I still can see you,
Close my ears, I can hear your footsteps fall,
And without feet I still can follow you,
And without voice I still can to you call.
Break off my arms, and I can embrace you,
Enfold you with my heart as with a hand.
Hold my heart, my brain will take fire of you
As flax ignites from a lit fire-brand —
And flame will sweep in a swift rushing flood
Through all the singing currents of my blood.
*
In the deep nights I dig for you, O Treasure!
To seek you over the wide world I roam,
For all abundance is but meager measure
Of your bright beauty which is yet to come.
Over the road to you the leaves are blowing,
Few follow it, the way is long and steep.
You dwell in solitude — Oh, does your glowing
Heart in some far off valley lie asleep?
My bloody hands, with digging bruised, I've lifted,
Spread like a tree I stretch them in the air
To find you before day to night has drifted;
I reach out into space to seek you there ...
Then, as though with a swift impatient gesture,
Flashing from distant stars on sweeping wing,
You come, and over earth a magic vesture
Steals gently as the rain falls in the spring.
The Book of Poverty and Death
Her mouth is like the mouth of a fine bust
That cannot utter sound, nor breathe, nor kiss,
But that had once from Life received all this
Which shaped its subtle curves, and ever must
From fullness of past knowledge dwell alone,
A thing apart, a parable in stone.
*
Alone Thou wanderest through space,
Profound One with the hidden face;
Thou art Poverty's great rose,
The eternal metamorphose
Of gold into the light of sun.
Thou art the mystic homeless One;
Into the world Thou never came,
Too mighty Thou, too great to name;
Voice of the storm, Song that the wild wind sings,
Thou Harp that shatters those who play Thy strings!
*
A watcher of Thy spaces make me,
Make me a listener at Thy stone,
Give to me vision and then wake me
Upon Thy oceans all alone.
Thy rivers' courses let me follow
Where they leap the crags in their flight
And where at dusk in caverns hollow
They croon to music of the night.
Send me far into Thy barren land
Where the snow clouds the wild wind drives,
Where monasteries like gray shrouds stand —
August symbols of unlived lives.
There pilgrims climb slowly one by one,
And behind them a blind man goes:
With him I will walk till day is done
Up the pathway that no one knows ...
Poem Analysis:
"The Book of Hours" by Rainer Maria Rilke is a collection of poems that delves into themes of spirituality, existentialism, and the human experience. Each section of the poem presents a different facet of life, reflecting the multifaceted nature of existence and the journey towards self-discovery and enlightenment.
The Book of A Monk's Life: In this section, Rilke explores the cyclical nature of life and the spiritual journey of a monk. The imagery of circles expanding endlessly signifies the eternal quest for meaning and fulfillment. The monk's life is portrayed as a continuous process of growth and enlightenment, symbolized by his circling around God and soaring through millennia. The poem reflects on the monk's deep connection to the divine and his unwavering pursuit of spiritual truth.
The Book of Pilgrimage: In this segment, Rilke contemplates the spiritual pilgrimage of the human soul. The imagery of day turning into night and the ascent towards a distant church symbolize the soul's journey towards transcendence and enlightenment. Rilke emphasizes the longing for spiritual fulfillment and the quest for divine grace. The poem evokes a sense of yearning and introspection, inviting readers to reflect on their own spiritual journeys and aspirations.
The Book of Poverty and Death: Here, Rilke confronts the existential realities of poverty and mortality. The imagery of poverty as a "great rose" and death as an enigmatic force underscores the transient nature of human existence. Rilke portrays poverty and death as universal experiences that shape the human condition and provoke profound introspection. The poem explores themes of impermanence, suffering, and the search for meaning in the face of adversity.
Themes and Symbolism: Throughout "The Book of Hours," Rilke employs rich symbolism and vivid imagery to convey complex philosophical concepts and spiritual insights. The recurring motifs of circles, pilgrimage, and divine transcendence underscore the cyclical nature of existence and the human quest for spiritual enlightenment. Rilke's exploration of poverty and death reflects on the fragility of life and the inevitability of mortality.
Language and Structure: Rilke's language is lyrical and evocative, inviting readers into a contemplative and introspective space. The structure of the poem, divided into distinct sections, mirrors the multifaceted journey of the human soul and the interconnectedness of life's experiences. Rilke's use of metaphor and allegory adds depth and nuance to his exploration of existential themes and spiritual truths.
In conclusion, "The Book of Hours" by Rainer Maria Rilke is a profound and introspective exploration of the human condition and the quest for spiritual enlightenment. Through vivid imagery, rich symbolism, and lyrical language, Rilke invites readers to contemplate life's mysteries and confront the existential realities of existence. The poem's timeless themes resonate across cultures and generations, offering profound insights into the nature of the human soul and its eternal search for meaning and transcendence.