Maidens (1)
By Rainer Maria Rilke
Others must by a long dark way
Stray to the mystic bards,
Or ask some one who has heard them sing
Or touch the magic chords.
Only the maidens question not
The bridges that lead to Dream;
Their luminous smiles are like strands of pearls
On a silver vase agleam.
The maidens' doors of Life lead out
Where the song of the poet soars,
And out beyond to the great world —
To the world beyond the doors.
Maidens the poets learn from you to tell
How solitary and remote you are,
As night is lighted by one high bright star
They draw light from the distance where you dwell.
For poet you must always maiden be
Even though his eyes the woman in you wake
Wedding brocade your fragile wrists would break,
Mysterious, elusive, from him flee.
Within his garden let him wait alone
Where benches stand expectant in the shade
Within the chamber where the lyre was played
Where he received you as the eternal One.
Go! It grows dark — your voice and form no more
His senses seek; he now no longer sees
A white robe fluttering under dark beech trees
Along the pathway where it gleamed before.
He loves the long paths where no footfalls ring,
And he loves much the silent chamber where
Like a soft whisper through the quiet air
He hears your voice, far distant, vanishing.
The softly stealing echo comes again
From crowds of men whom, wearily, he shuns;
And many see you there — so his thought runs —
And tenderest memories are pierced with pain.
Stray to the mystic bards,
Or ask some one who has heard them sing
Or touch the magic chords.
Only the maidens question not
The bridges that lead to Dream;
Their luminous smiles are like strands of pearls
On a silver vase agleam.
The maidens' doors of Life lead out
Where the song of the poet soars,
And out beyond to the great world —
To the world beyond the doors.
Maidens (2)
Maidens the poets learn from you to tell
How solitary and remote you are,
As night is lighted by one high bright star
They draw light from the distance where you dwell.
For poet you must always maiden be
Even though his eyes the woman in you wake
Wedding brocade your fragile wrists would break,
Mysterious, elusive, from him flee.
Within his garden let him wait alone
Where benches stand expectant in the shade
Within the chamber where the lyre was played
Where he received you as the eternal One.
Go! It grows dark — your voice and form no more
His senses seek; he now no longer sees
A white robe fluttering under dark beech trees
Along the pathway where it gleamed before.
He loves the long paths where no footfalls ring,
And he loves much the silent chamber where
Like a soft whisper through the quiet air
He hears your voice, far distant, vanishing.
The softly stealing echo comes again
From crowds of men whom, wearily, he shuns;
And many see you there — so his thought runs —
And tenderest memories are pierced with pain.
Poem Analysis:
Rainer Maria Rilke’s poem Maidens reflects his exploration of beauty, idealization, and the elusive nature of femininity. The poem is divided into two parts, both of which depict the maidens as symbols of something beyond mere mortal existence, representing an ideal, a dream, and a source of inspiration for the poet. Through his use of imagery, tone, and symbolism, Rilke invites readers into a contemplative space where the line between reality and imagination is blurred.
Part One: The Maidens as Pure and Untouched
The first part of the poem presents the maidens as almost ethereal beings. Rilke opens with the observation that others must seek out "the mystic bards" and travel a "long dark way" to find these maidens or their songs. This reference to a journey suggests that the maidens exist in a realm that is both distant and inaccessible to most, yet it’s clear they embody an ideal that is often sought but rarely attained.
Rilke contrasts this search with the experience of the maidens, who do not question the path to "Dream" and effortlessly possess the knowledge of it. They are depicted as being naturally attuned to the mysterious and magical, as signified by their “luminous smiles” which are compared to “strands of pearls / On a silver vase agleam.” The pearl, often a symbol of purity and perfection, underscores the idea that the maidens are untouched by the burdens of the world. Their beauty is not just physical, but spiritual, transcendent, existing as a beacon of light for those who seek inspiration or enlightenment.
The “doors of Life” that open for the maidens lead out to a world beyond the ordinary. They are not confined to earthly concerns but are connected to something higher, something unattainable by the poet unless he embraces their elusive nature. The poem here suggests that the maidens represent an ideal that the poet can observe but not fully possess—something beyond his grasp yet inherently inspiring.
Part Two: The Maidens as Objects of Poetic Desire and Alienation
The second part of the poem shifts in tone, revealing a more complex and bittersweet view of the maidens. Here, the maidens become the very source of poetic inspiration, yet their essence remains distant and untouchable. Rilke writes that "poets learn from you to tell / How solitary and remote you are." The maidens, in this sense, embody the paradox of beauty and unattainability—always near yet always far. The "high bright star" metaphor evokes the sense of something distant but luminous, a guiding light that is beautiful precisely because it cannot be touched or fully comprehended.
The poet, Rilke implies, must always remain in a state of yearning for the maidens, even though they elude him. Their beauty is fragile, symbolized by the "wedding brocade" that might "break" their delicate wrists, suggesting that their perfection could shatter under the weight of earthly bonds like marriage. Rilke continues to portray the maidens as mysterious and elusive, retreating from the poet's grasp, especially as they embody the eternal feminine, the idealized muse that cannot be held.
This unattainability intensifies the poet’s solitude. The poet is depicted waiting alone in his garden, symbolizing a place of reflection and contemplation, yet even within this solitude, he is isolated, unable to fully connect with the vision of the maiden. The "silent chamber" where the lyre was played suggests the poet’s search for harmony and inspiration, yet the maiden remains absent, leaving him with only the echo of her presence. This absence, however, does not diminish her power over him. The poet continues to feel her influence through the memories and echoes she leaves behind, which are painful reminders of what can never be fully realized.
The poem concludes with a poignant image of the poet hearing a faint, distant echo of the maiden’s voice, no longer tangible but still present in his mind. He is left with a memory of her, a "whisper through the quiet air," which only deepens his longing and alienation. The poet’s search for the maiden, in the end, is futile. Her form and voice vanish, leaving behind a trail of pain and unfulfilled desire.
The Poetic and Mystical Themes
Rilke's depiction of the maidens touches on themes of mysticism and the poetic process. The maidens are not just women; they represent the poet’s muse, the unattainable ideal that drives the creative process. Their elusive nature is essential to their beauty—if they were fully accessible, they would lose their mystery, and their role as a muse would diminish. Rilke implies that the poet’s role is one of perpetual longing, striving toward an ideal that he can never quite grasp, which mirrors the often painful process of artistic creation.
Furthermore, Rilke explores the duality of the maiden as both muse and source of alienation. While the maiden inspires the poet’s work, she also distances herself from him, never fully allowing him to possess her. This dynamic reflects the tension in many artistic endeavors between creation and loss, between the search for meaning and the realization that some things are simply beyond comprehension or reach.
In Maidens, Rilke explores the complex relationship between the poet and his muse, portraying the maidens as both sources of beauty and symbols of unattainable ideals. They inspire the poet, but their elusiveness also brings him sorrow and isolation. Through vivid imagery, metaphor, and a tone of longing, Rilke captures the paradox of the artistic process—forever searching, always yearning, but never fully achieving. The maidens exist not as real, tangible beings but as ideas, guiding the poet toward a greater understanding of beauty, creativity, and the impermanence of human desire.