[Again and again, even though we know love’s landscape]

Rainer Maria Rilke - 1875-1926

Again and again, even though we know love’s landscape
and the little churchyard with its lamenting names
and the terrible reticent gorge in which the others
end: again and again the two of us walk out together
under the ancient trees, lay ourselves down again and again
among the flowers, and look up into the sky.

The bleak fields are asleep, My heart alone wakes; The evening in the harbour Down his red sails takes. Night, guardian of dreams, Now wanders through the land; The moon, a lily white, Blossoms within her hand.

Is he native to this realm? No, his wide nature grew out of both worlds. They more adeptly bend the willow's branches who have experience of the willow's roots. When you go to bed, don't leave bread or milk on the table: it attracts the dead— But may he, this quiet conjurer, may he beneath the mildness of the eyelid mix their bright traces into every seen thing; and may the magic of earthsmoke and rue be as real for him as the clearest connection. Nothing can mar for him the authentic image; whether he wanders through houses or graves, let him praise signet ring, gold necklace, jar.

The leaves fall, fall as from far, Like distant gardens withered in the heavens; They fall with slow and lingering descent. And in the nights the heavy Earth, too, falls From out the stars into the Solitude. Thus all doth fall. This hand of mine must fall And lo! the other one:—it is the law. But there is One who holds this falling Infinitely softly in His hands.

Poems

[Again and again, even though we know love’s landscape]

More by Rainer Maria Rilke

Evening

Sonnet 6

Autumn

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Poems

[Again and again, even though we know love’s landscape]

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