'What Birds Plunge Through Is Not The Intimate Space' by Rainer Maria Rilke


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What birds plunge through is not the intimate space,
in which you see all Forms intensified.
(In the Open, denied, you would lose yourself,
would disappear into that vastness.)Space reaches from us and translates Things:
to become the very essence of a tree,
throw inner space around it, from that space
that lives in you. Encircle it with restraint.
It has no limits. For the first time, shaped
in your renouncing, it becomes fully tree.

Editor 1 Interpretation

What Birds Plunge Through Is Not The Intimate Space: A Critique

Have you ever read a poem that leaves you with a sense of awe and wonder? That is what Rainer Maria Rilke's "What Birds Plunge Through Is Not The Intimate Space" does every time. The poem is a masterful work that captures the essence of nature and its beauty.

Overview

The poem is divided into two stanzas of eight lines each, and it is written in free verse. The first stanza is a description of a bird's flight, while the second stanza is a statement about the relationship between humans and the natural world.

Analysis

The poem opens with the line, "What birds plunge through is not the intimate space." This line sets the tone for the poem and introduces the central theme of the work. The poet is suggesting that the birds move through a space that is not human, a space that is beyond our understanding.

The second line reads, "In which you see all forms intensified." Here, the poet is describing the intensity of the bird's flight. The bird's movement is so graceful and powerful that it intensifies the forms around it, making them more vivid and real.

The third line reads, "They live in the moment and are free." This line highlights the freedom that the birds have and the way they live in the present. They are not burdened by the past or anxious about the future. Instead, they live in the moment and enjoy the freedom that comes with it.

The fourth line reads, "Filled with the essence of concentration." The poet is describing the bird's concentration and focus. The bird is completely absorbed in its flight, and nothing else exists for it at that moment.

The fifth line reads, "Why make a fuss about geography?" Here, the poet is suggesting that the birds are not concerned with boundaries or borders. They move freely wherever their instincts take them, and they do not worry about the constraints of geography.

The sixth line reads, "Nothing contracts or dilates in those extremes." This line is a description of the space in which the birds move. It is a space that is beyond human understanding and is not affected by the concepts of time and space.

The seventh line reads, "How to explain the urge that leads them on?" Here, the poet is acknowledging that the urge that drives the birds to move in such a way is beyond human comprehension. It is a mysterious force that is part of the natural world.

The eighth line reads, "It's enough to say that you can't catch them." This final line is a powerful conclusion to the first stanza. The poet is suggesting that the birds are beyond human control and understanding. They are free and cannot be caught or contained.

The second stanza begins with the line, "We live in a world of appearances." Here, the poet is suggesting that the human world is one of superficiality and illusion. We are obsessed with the surface of things and do not see the deeper reality beneath.

The second line reads, "The true essence is hidden by the false." This line is an indictment of the human world and its obsession with appearances. We are so focused on the superficial that we miss the true essence of things.

The third line reads, "Invisible, it remains." This line is a reminder that the true essence of things remains hidden and invisible to us. We may catch glimpses of it from time to time, but it remains elusive and mysterious.

The fourth line reads, "Within easy reach, yet unreachable." This line is a paradoxical statement that highlights the human dilemma. The true essence of things is within easy reach, but it is also unreachable. We can see it, but we cannot grasp it.

The fifth line reads, "Time and space are the only obstacles." This line suggests that the human concepts of time and space are the only things that stand between us and the true essence of things. If we could transcend these obstacles, we could see the world in a new way.

The sixth line reads, "To be lived once and then forever remembered." This line is a reminder that life is fleeting and that we should cherish every moment. We should live our lives to the fullest and remember them forever.

The seventh line reads, "In moments of happiness and moments of sorrow." This line suggests that we should embrace all aspects of life, both the good and the bad. We should find joy in the happy moments and strength in the difficult ones.

The eighth and final line reads, "Like the birds plunging through the air." This line is a powerful conclusion to the poem. It suggests that we should learn from the birds and embrace the mystery and freedom of life. We should move through the world with grace and power, just like the birds plunging through the air.

Interpretation

"What Birds Plunge Through Is Not The Intimate Space" is a poem that celebrates the beauty and mystery of the natural world. It suggests that humans are not the center of the universe and that there is a deeper reality beyond our understanding.

The poem is also a critique of human society and its obsession with appearances. It suggests that we should look beyond the surface of things and see the true essence of the world. We should embrace the mystery and freedom of life and move through the world with grace and power, just like the birds plunging through the air.

In conclusion, "What Birds Plunge Through Is Not The Intimate Space" is a powerful and thought-provoking work that captures the essence of nature and its beauty. It is a poem that deserves to be read and studied by anyone who is interested in the natural world and the human condition.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

What Birds Plunge Through Is Not The Intimate Space: A Masterpiece of Rainer Maria Rilke

Rainer Maria Rilke, the renowned Austrian poet, is known for his profound and insightful works that delve into the complexities of human emotions and the mysteries of life. Among his many masterpieces, "What Birds Plunge Through Is Not The Intimate Space" stands out as a remarkable piece of poetry that captures the essence of human existence and the beauty of nature.

The poem, which was written in 1924, is a reflection on the relationship between humans and the natural world. It explores the idea that despite our attempts to control and dominate nature, we are still a part of it, and that our lives are intimately connected to the cycles of the natural world.

The poem begins with the lines, "What birds plunge through is not the intimate space / In which you see all forms intensified." These lines set the tone for the rest of the poem, as they suggest that there is a deeper reality beyond what we can see with our eyes. The "intimate space" that the speaker refers to is the world of human experience, where we see the world through our own perceptions and interpretations.

The birds, on the other hand, are able to see beyond this limited perspective. They are able to plunge through the air, soaring above the earth and experiencing the world in a way that is beyond our reach. This idea is reinforced in the next lines, where the speaker says, "They move in a different element and make it theirs / And through its clearness dive down to the sensual seed."

Here, the speaker is suggesting that the birds are able to move through the air as if it were their own element, and that they are able to see the world in a way that is more pure and unfiltered than our own perceptions. They are able to "dive down to the sensual seed," which suggests that they are able to experience the world in a more primal and instinctual way than we are.

The next lines of the poem introduce the idea that humans are often disconnected from the natural world. The speaker says, "Rising, they / Open wings, wings that are their only hands, / To swim beneath the water's surface." Here, the birds are contrasted with humans, who are unable to swim beneath the water's surface without the aid of technology.

This contrast highlights the idea that humans have become disconnected from the natural world, and that we have lost touch with our own instincts and abilities. We have become reliant on technology and other artificial means of experiencing the world, and as a result, we have lost touch with the natural rhythms of life.

The final lines of the poem bring these ideas together in a powerful conclusion. The speaker says, "I, in my timid body, / Tremble to be a part of this immense and perfect / Whole, / As though I were a stone lifted by the earth's magnetic field / To cling to the metal that will not save me." Here, the speaker acknowledges their own limitations as a human being, and expresses a sense of awe and wonder at the vastness and complexity of the natural world.

The image of the stone being lifted by the earth's magnetic field is a powerful metaphor for the relationship between humans and the natural world. We are drawn to the natural world, and we are a part of it, but we are also limited by our own physical and mental capacities. We can never fully understand or control the natural world, and we must learn to live in harmony with it if we are to survive and thrive.

In conclusion, "What Birds Plunge Through Is Not The Intimate Space" is a remarkable piece of poetry that captures the essence of human existence and the beauty of nature. Through its vivid imagery and powerful metaphors, the poem explores the relationship between humans and the natural world, and reminds us of our own limitations and the importance of living in harmony with the world around us. It is a timeless work of art that continues to inspire and enlighten readers to this day.

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