The Silence

Author : Rainer Maria Rilke Translator : Edward Snow

Listen, love, I lift my hands -

listen : there's a rustling...

What gesture of those all alone

might not be eavesdropped on by many things?

Listen, love, I close my eyes,

and even that makes sounds to reach you.

Listen, love, I open them...

... but why are you not here?

 

The imprint of my smallest motion

remains visible in the silken silence;

indestructibly the least excitement

is stamped into the distance's taut curtain.

On my breathing the stars

rise and set.

At my lips fragrances come to drink,

and I recognize the wrists

of distant angels.

Only her of whom I think : You

I cannot see.

Reviews

[Antonio Valentino]

ohh that was splendid..

thoroughly enjoyed your style of writing..

:)

[Eloha]

This is one of the better poems I've read today, and I've read probably about 300. Really well done.

I adore your vocabulary and the topic of this poem.

[Elsie Douver]

Haha im super glad you like it cause i do to, tis one of my favorites, but sadly i didn't write it.

[Eloha]

Rilke, hehe I thought it was familiar! Fair enough!

[Elsie Douver]

lol :)

[Eloha]

What other poets do you like?

[Elsie Douver]

oh lots, robert frost, shakespeare, tennyson, and lots more though my memory fails so I can't really name a whole bunch haha. hbu?