Wednesday, March 25, 2015

The Morning Reading: "The Earth is Like a child that has learned to recite a poem"



Sonnets to Orpheus: XXI
- Rainer Maria Rilke

Spring has come again. The Earth is
Like a child that has learned to recite a poem;
No, - many, many. ... And for the difficulty
Of learning them now, the prize is bestowed.

She had a strict teacher. We liked the white
In the beards of old men.
But now we can dare to ask: How do you say green?
How do you say blue? - She knows! She knows!

Earth, you have been made free. You fortunate! Play now
With the children. - “We can catch you!”,
Oh joyous Earth! To the most joyous, Godspeed!

Oh, what the teacher had to teach her, the plenitude,
And what stands printed for her both in roots and in ripe,
Tough stalks: this she sings, she sings!

*
(translated by Robert Temple)

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