I saw the earth juggling
between two crown jewels -
sunrise at the heavenly east
and westward -where the star-lit ivory moon sets
I embrace this hour
in silence -
between two crown jewels -
sunrise at the heavenly east
and westward -where the star-lit ivory moon sets
But my eyes are riveted
to ancient trees
with no fruits nor leaves, becoming bones
sinking deeper to soilwith no fruits nor leaves, becoming bones
I embrace this hour
in silence -
all my senses awakening
as the morning ripens,
greeting me
with all the light it has
& can ever give me
as the morning ripens,
greeting me
with all the light it has
& can ever give me
Inspired by the original work of Rainer Maria Rilke.
English version by Anita Barrows and Joanna Macy
Original Language German
The hour is striking so close above me
by Rainer Maria RilkeEnglish version by Anita Barrows and Joanna Macy
Original Language German
The hour is striking so close above me,
so clear and sharp,
that all my senses ring with it.
I feel it now: there's a power in me
to grasp and give shape to my world.
I know that nothing has ever been real
without my beholding it.
All becoming has needed me.
My looking ripens things
and they come toward me, to meet and be met.
so clear and sharp,
that all my senses ring with it.
I feel it now: there's a power in me
to grasp and give shape to my world.
I know that nothing has ever been real
without my beholding it.
All becoming has needed me.
My looking ripens things
and they come toward me, to meet and be met.
Posted for D'verse Poets Pub - Poetics - Cover Poems by guest Bryan.
Thanks for the visit ~
I really love how you covered Rilke, giving it your own voice at the same time as you kept the sentiment of the original so well... This reminded me of your prompts at real toads... so much to learn from reading a poet and singing along so to speak
ReplyDeletelove the image of the earth being juggled between the sun and the moon...and referring to them as crown jewels is absolutely gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteJust realized...in a sense, a translation of poetry from one language to another is, in a sense, a cover as well...as any time something is translated, it must be interpreted by the translator since so many words do not have a perfect translation from one language to the next.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, Grace, you've chosen a poem by Rilke, my favourite German poet. When I was sixteen I won an award for a project in German about Rilke, which paid my fare when I first moved to Cologne back in 1973, just before my seventeenth birthday. I love your cover!
ReplyDeleteWow Grace. This is a beautiful rendition of a work by one of my favorite poets.It is very much your voice and as with many of these covers echoes the original.
ReplyDeleteSo very beautiful. I love this quiet hour of the day, and you captured it wonderfully.
ReplyDeleteSure gave it your own spin for the win. A time of day when one can just relax and take it in.
ReplyDeleteTrULy.. it's
ReplyDeletesad to be
separate
from wHole
not realiZinG
full hUman poTenTial
to create a world within
that expands from inside..
to outside.. so above.. below
and all around all creators we..
when not
lost
in
stuff of
otHeRs more..:)
'I saw the earth juggling between two crown jewels" I love the breadth of your perception. Janice
ReplyDeleteI like your version better Grace, yours is more a part of the action, instead of just the recipient, it's more involved
ReplyDeleteCongratulations. You took us to a new level
ReplyDeleteNot a competition. A compliment
Beautifully done Grace. Your voice us really clear and the images are striking
ReplyDeleteA wonderful tribute to a Fall morning.
ReplyDeleteYou did a lovely job with the cover, your voice really shines here Grace.
ReplyDeleteThe contrast between the two is interesting. Rilke is discussing the inner state, yours the outer. He makes the world, while your world makes you.
ReplyDeleteOr so it seems. He is at wonder of his mind, you of the world.
Rilke comes here in translation -- as most of us English speakers encounter him -- so the source is already a copy: your refinement is both of the translator's sentiment and the orginal's intent, finding, as I have in my forays into Rilke, many oceans within. The gift of his poem becomes the mantle you lay this on, finding essence between magnitudes. Beyond his beholding, the vast empowerment of the thing itself -- "this hour / in silence." Amen, and well done.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful reinterpretation of a beautiful original!
ReplyDeleteThey are both beautiful!
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful !!! xoxox
ReplyDeleteBeautifully done...a gorgeous last stanza..smiles~
ReplyDeleteThey really are crown jewels aren't they? I love this one! Thank you for sharing it with us. Have a wonderful weekend. :)
ReplyDelete(sigh) those ancient trees do draw us to them. It is as if they have something to impart. This is really beautiful. I am there.
ReplyDelete