| O SAGE, DICHTER ... | O TELL US, POET ... |
| Rainer Maria Rilke | trans. Brian Cole |
|
O sage, Dichter, was du tust? - Ich rühme. Aber das Tödliche und Ungetüme, wie haltst du's aus, wie nimmst du's hin?- Ich rühme. Aber das Namenlose, Anonyme, wie rufst du's, Dichter, dennoch an?- Ich rühme. Woher dein Recht, in jeglichem Kostüme, in jeder Maske wahr zu sein? - Ich rühme. Und dass das Stille und das Ungestüme wie Stern und Sturm dich kennen?:- Weil ich rühme. |
O tell us, poet, what you do? - I praise. But when some murderous monster's raised, how can you bear it, how accept? - I praise. But the anonymous that has no traits, how can you, Poet, call on that? - I praise. And how have you the right, in all arrays, in every mask to be still true? - I praise. How do the quiet and the violent days like stars and storms know you? - Because I praise. |
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Trans. copyright © Brian Cole 2002