13 Best Rainer Maria Rilke Poems Everyone Should Read

René Maria Rilke, better known as Rainer Maria Rilke, was a Bohemian-Austrian poet and novelist. He is “widely recognized as one of the most lyrically intense German-language poets”.

Famous Rainer Maria Rilke Poems

Eve

Simply she stands at the cathedral’s
great ascent, close to the rose window,
with the apple in the apple-pose,
guiltless-guilty once and for all

of the growing she gave birth to
since form the circle of eternities
loving she went forth, top struggle through
her way throughout the earth like a young year.

Ah, gladly yet a little in that land
Would she have lingered, heeding the harmony
And understanding of the animals.

But since she found the man determined,
She went with him, aspiring after death,
And she had as yet hardly known God.

Venetian Morning

Windows pampered like princes always see
what on occasion deigns to trouble us:
the city that, time and again, where a shimmer
of sky strikes a feeling of floodtide,

takes shape without once choosing to be.
Each new morning must first show her the opals
she wore yesterday, and pull rows
of reflections out of the canal
and remind her of the other times:
only then does she concede and settle in

like a nymph who received great Zeus.
The dangling earrings ring out at her ear;
but she lifts San Giorgio Maggiore
and smiles idly into that lovely thing.

Translated by Edward Snow

Growing Old

In some summers there is so much fruit,
the peasants decide not to reap any more.
Not having reaped you, oh my days,
my nights, have I let the slow flames
of your lovely produce fall into ashes?

My nights, my days, you have borne so much!
All your branches have retained the gesture
of that long labor you are rising from:
my days, my nights. Oh my rustic friends!

I look for what was so good for you.
Oh my lovely, half-dead trees,
could some equal sweetness still
stroke your leaves, open your calyx?

Ah, no more fruit! But one last time
bloom in fruitless blossoming
without planning, without reckoning,
as useless as the powers of millenia.

The Neighbor

Strange violin, why do you follow me?
In how many foreign cities did you
speak of your lonely nights and those of mine.
Are you being played by hundreds? Or by one?

Do in all great cities men exist
who tormented and in deep despair
would have sought the river but for you?
And why does your playing always reach me?

Why is it that I am always neighbor
to those lost ones who are forced to sing
and to say: Life is infinitely heavier
than the heaviness of all things.

Losing

Losing too is still ours; and even forgetting
still has a shape in the kingdom of transformation.
When something’s let go of, it circles; and though we are
rarely the center
of the circle, it draws around us its unbroken, marvelous
curve.

Palm

nterior of the hand. Sole that has come to walk
only on feelings. That faces upward
and in its mirror
receives heavenly roads, which travel
along themselves.
That has learned to walk upon water
when it scoops,
that walks upon wells,
transfiguring every path.
That steps into other hands,
changes those that are like it
into a landscape:
wanders and arrives within them,
fills them with arrival.

The Song Of The Blindman

I am blind, you out there — that is a curse,
against one’s will, a contradiction,
a heavy daily burden.
I lay my hand on the arm of my wife,
my grey hand upon her greyer grey,
as she guides me through empty spaces.

You move about and stir, and imagine
your sounds differing from stone to stone.
But you are mistaken: I alone
live and suffer and complain, for
in me is an endless crying,
and I do not know whether it is
my heart that cries or my bowels.

Do you recognize these songs? You never sang them,
not quite with this intonation.
For you every morning brings its new light
warm through your open windows.
And you have the feeling from face to face
that tempts you to be indulgent.

The Blindman’s Song

I am blind, you outsiders. It is a curse,
a contradiction, a tiresome farce,
and every day I despair.
I put my hand on the arm of my wife
(colorless hand on colorless sleeve)
and she walks me through empty air.

You push and shove and think that you’ve been
sounding different from stone against stone,
but you are mistaken: I alone
live and suffer and howl.
In me there is an endless outcry
and I can’t tell what’s crying, whether its my
broken heart or my bowels.

Are the tunes familiar? You don’t sing them like this:
how could you understand?
Each morning the sunlight comes into your house,
and you welcome it as a friend.
And you know what it’s like to see face-to-face;
and that tempts you to be kind.

The Last Evening

And night and distant rumbling; now the army’s
carrier-train was moving out, to war.
He looked up from the harpsichord, and as
he went on playing, he looked across at her

almost as one might gaze into a mirror:
so deeply was her every feature filled
with his young features, which bore his pain and were
more beautiful and seductive with each sound.

Then, suddenly, the image broke apart.
She stood, as though distracted, near the window
and felt the violent drum-beats of her heart.

His playing stopped. From outside, a fresh wind blew.
And strangely alien on the mirror-table
stood the black shako with its ivory skull.

My Life

My whole life is mine, but whoever says so
will deprive me, for it is infinite.
The ripple of water, the shade of the sky
are mine; it is still the same, my life.

No desire opens me: I am full,
I never close myself with refusal-
in the rhythm of my daily soul
I do not desire-I am moved;

by being moved I exert my empire,
making the dreams of night real:
into my body at the bottom of the water
I attract the beyonds of mirrors…

Falconry

A prince survives by unseen acts.
At night the chief advisor knocked
at Frederick’s workroom in the tower
and found him formulating facts
for treatises on wingèd power
while his penman turned out text.

It was in this aerie room
he’d walked all night with her on arm,
turbulent and barely fledged.
Whatever plans then sprang to mind,
whatever fondness deeply chimed
in recollection he would trash
and tend the frightened and impassioned
thing he wished to understand.
Every night he made a time
for nothing but the young unhandled
animal. It was her staring
inborn mind he’d worked to learn,

so he was lofted with her grace
when she, the bird that nobles praise,
thrown gleaming from his hand (her wingbeats raised
into the heartfelt morning air)
and diving like an angel struck the hern.

Behind The Blameless Trees

Behind the blameless trees
old fate slowly builds
her mute countenance.
Wrinkles grow there . . .
What a bird shrieks here
springs there like a gasp of warning
from a soothsayer’s hard mouth.

And the soon-to-be lovers
smile on each other, not yet knowing farewell,
and round about them, like a constellation,
their destiny casts
its nightly spell.
Still to come, it does not reach out to them,
it remains
a phantom
floating in its heavenly course.

At The Brink Of Night

My room and this distance,
awake upon the darkening land,
are one. I am a string
stretched across deep
surging resonance.

Things are violin bodies
full of murmuring darkness,
where women’s weeping dreams,
where the rancor of whole generations
stirs in its sleep . . .
I should release
my silver vibrations: then
everything below me will live,
and whatever strays into things
will seek the light
that falls without end from my dancing tone
into the old abysses
around which heaven swells
through narrow
imploring
rifts.

FAQs: Rainer Maria Rilke Poems

Who was Rainer Maria Rilke, and why is he considered one of the greatest poets?
Rainer Maria Rilke was an Austrian poet and novelist known for his deeply introspective and spiritually profound works. His poetry is celebrated for its exploration of human existence, love, solitude, and the divine, making him one of the most influential literary figures of the modernist era.

What are the central themes in Rilke’s poetry?
Rilke’s poems often delve into themes of existential reflection, the complexity of love, the beauty of nature, and the search for meaning in life. He frequently explored the relationship between the individual and the divine, as well as the transformative power of art and creativity.

What makes Rilke’s poetry unique?
Rilke’s poetry stands out for its lyrical quality, rich imagery, and philosophical depth. His ability to articulate the ineffable and to transform abstract emotions into vivid, tangible expressions makes his work deeply moving and timeless.

How did Rilke’s life influence his poetry?
Rilke’s personal experiences, including his struggles with identity, his deep spiritual quest, and his travels across Europe, profoundly shaped his poetry. His relationships with notable artists and thinkers of his time also influenced his perspective, enriching the emotional and intellectual depth of his work.

Why is “Letters to a Young Poet” often associated with Rilke?
“Letters to a Young Poet” is a series of letters Rilke wrote to a young aspiring poet, offering guidance on creativity, self-discovery, and life. These letters reflect Rilke’s poetic philosophy and remain a source of inspiration for artists and thinkers worldwide.

What are some of Rilke’s most famous poems?
Rilke is known for masterpieces like “The Panther,” “Archaic Torso of Apollo,” and selections from Duino Elegies and Sonnets to Orpheus. These works exemplify his ability to intertwine beauty, spirituality, and existential thought.

How does Rilke’s poetry address the human condition?
Rilke’s poems often reflect on the joys and struggles of being human, including the search for meaning, the experience of loss, and the beauty of connection. He captures the essence of life’s complexities, offering readers a sense of solace and understanding.

What is the significance of “Duino Elegies”?
“Duino Elegies” is a collection of ten elegiac poems considered one of Rilke’s greatest achievements. These poems explore profound themes such as mortality, the divine, and the role of the artist, blending existential inquiry with transcendent beauty.

Why is Rilke’s poetry often described as spiritual or mystical?
Rilke’s works frequently explore the connection between the material and spiritual realms. His poems contemplate the divine, the meaning of existence, and the transcendence of art, offering readers a mystical perspective on life and the universe.

How can one best appreciate Rilke’s poetry?
To appreciate Rilke’s poetry fully, take time to reflect on the language, imagery, and themes. Reading his work slowly and in a contemplative setting allows for deeper engagement. Exploring the historical and personal context of his poems can also enhance understanding.

Why does Rilke’s poetry continue to resonate with modern readers?
Rilke’s exploration of universal themes like love, loss, and self-discovery ensures his poetry remains relevant. His ability to articulate the inner struggles and joys of life resonates deeply with readers seeking meaning and connection.