'Duino Elegies: The First Elegy' by Rainer Maria Rilke

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Who, if I cried out, would hear me among the angels'
hierarchies? and even if one of them suddenly
pressed me against his heart, I would perish
in the embrace of his stronger existence.
For beauty is nothing but the beginning of terror
which we are barely able to endure and are awed
because it serenely disdains to annihilate us.
Each single angel is terrifying.
And so I force myself, swallow and hold back
the surging call of my dark sobbing.
Oh, to whom can we turn for help?
Not angels, not humans;
and even the knowing animals are aware that we feel
little secure and at home in our interpreted world.
There remains perhaps some tree on a hillside
daily for us to see; yesterday's street remains for us
stayed, moved in with us and showed no signs of leaving.
Oh, and the night, the night, when the wind
full of cosmic space invades our frightened faces.
Whom would it not remain for -that longed-after,
gently disenchanting night, painfully there for the
solitary heart to achieve? Is it easier for lovers?
Don't you know yet ? Fling out of your arms theemptiness into the spaces we breath -perhaps the birds
will feel the expanded air in their more ferven flight.Yes, the springtime were in need of you. Often a star
waited for you to espy it and sense its light.
A wave rolled toward you out of the distant past,
or as you walked below an open window,
a violin gave itself to your hearing.
All this was trust. But could you manage it?
Were you not always distraught by expectation,
as if all this were announcing the arrival
of a beloved?(Where would you find a place
to hide her, with all your great strange thoughtscoming and going and often staying for the night.)
When longing overcomes you, sing of women in love;
for their famous passion is far from immortal enough.
Those whom you almost envy, the abandoned and
desolate ones, whom you found so much more loving
than those gratified. Begin ever new again
the praise you cannot attain; remember:
the hero lives on and survives; even his downfall
was for him only a pretext for achieving
his final birth. But nature, exhausted, takes lovers
back into itself, as if such creative forces could never be
achieved a second time.
Have you thought of Gaspara Stampa sufficiently:that any girl abandoned by her lover may feel
from that far intenser example of loving:
"Ah, might I become like her!" Should not their oldest
sufferings finally become more fruitful for us?
Is it not time that lovingly we freed ourselves
from the beloved and, quivering, endured:
as the arrow endures the bow-string's tension,
and in this tense release becomes more than itself.
For staying is nowhere.Voices, voices. Listen my heart, as only saints
have listened: until the gigantic call lifted them
clear off the ground. Yet they went on, impossibly,
kneeling, completely unawares: so intense was
their listening. Not that you could endure
the voice of God -far from it! But listen
to the voice of the wind and the ceaseless message
that forms itself out of silence. They sweep
toward you now from those who died young.
Whenever they entered a church in Rome or Naples,
did not their fate quietly speak to you as recently
as the tablet did in Santa Maria Formosa?
What do they want of me? to quietly remove
the appearance of suffered injustice that,
at times, hinders a little their spirits from
freely proceeding onward.Of course, it is strange to inhabit the earth no longer,
to no longer use skills on had barely time to acquire;
not to observe roses and other things that promised
so much in terms of a human future, no longer
to be what one was in infinitely anxious hands;
to even discard one's own name as easily as a child
abandons a broken toy.
Strange, not to desire to continue wishing one's wishes.
Strange to notice all that was related, fluttering
so loosely in space. And being dead is hard work
and full of retrieving before one can gradually feel a
trace of eternity. -Yes, but the liviing make
the mistake of drawing too sharp a distinction.
Angels (they say) are often unable to distinguish
between moving among the living or the dead.
The eternal torrent whirls all ages along with it,
through both realms forever, and their voices are lost in
its thunderous roar.In the end the early departed have no longer
need of us. One is gently weaned from things
of this world as a child outgrows the need
of its mother's breast. But we who have needof those great mysteries, we for whom grief is
so often the source of spiritual growth,
could we exist without them?
Is the legend vain that tells of music's beginning
in the midst of the mourning for Linos?
the daring first sounds of song piercing
the barren numbness, and how in that stunned space
an almost godlike youth suddenly left forever,
and the emptiness felt for the first time
those harmonious vibrations which now enrapture
and comfort and help us.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Duino Elegies: The First Elegy by Rainer Maria Rilke

Introduction

Duino Elegies is a masterpiece of modernist poetry by Rainer Maria Rilke. The First Elegy is the opening poem of this ten-part series. It is a poem of great beauty and philosophical depth, exploring themes of human existence, mortality, and the search for meaning in the face of our mortality. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve into the meaning and significance of this poem.

Analysis

The First Elegy opens with a striking image of an angel, descending to the earth. The angel is depicted as a powerful, almost terrifying figure, with "eyes so vast they can encompass all our seeing." This image sets the tone for the poem - one of awe, wonder, and existential questioning. The angel is a symbol of transcendence, of a realm beyond our earthly existence.

The poem then moves on to explore the human experience of mortality. Rilke writes that "beauty is nothing but the beginning of terror," suggesting that our awareness of the fleeting nature of life is the source of our deepest fears and anxieties. He goes on to say that "we feel so much longing for the future," but that this longing is ultimately futile, since we are all destined to die.

This theme of mortality is further explored in the image of the "open window" - a symbol of our openness to the world, but also our vulnerability to the forces of nature and the passage of time. The window represents our fragile existence, and the inevitability of our eventual demise.

The poem then shifts to a more philosophical tone, as Rilke questions the meaning and purpose of life. He asks, "who, if I cried out, would hear me among the angels' hierarchies?" This question speaks to the existential isolation that we all feel at times, as we search for meaning and connection in a world that can seem indifferent to our struggles.

Rilke then turns to the idea of love, as a possible answer to the question of meaning. He writes that "perhaps the star that is so bright and large in the sky, is only a drop of dew on the tip of a blade of grass, and we are all living in a dream." This image suggests that our perception of reality may be limited, and that there may be a greater, more profound truth beyond our everyday experience.

The poem ends with a plea for the angels to help us overcome our fear of mortality, and to guide us towards a deeper understanding of our place in the universe. Rilke writes that "for beauty is nothing but the beginning of terror, which we still are just able to endure, and we are so awed because it serenely disdains to annihilate us." This final image of beauty is a reminder that, even in the face of our mortality, there is still wonder and awe to be found in the world.

Interpretation

The First Elegy is a deeply philosophical poem that explores some of the most fundamental questions of human existence. At its core, the poem is a meditation on the human experience of mortality, and the search for meaning in the face of our eventual demise.

One of the most striking aspects of the poem is the use of the angel as a symbol of transcendence. The angel represents a realm beyond our earthly existence, a realm of beauty, wonder, and spiritual connection. This image is a powerful reminder that, even in the face of our mortality, there is still a sense of transcendence and beauty to be found in the world.

Another key theme of the poem is the idea of isolation and disconnection. Rilke asks, "who, if I cried out, would hear me among the angels' hierarchies?" This question speaks to the existential loneliness that we all feel at times, as we search for meaning and connection in a world that can seem indifferent to our struggles.

The poem also explores the idea of love as a possible answer to the question of meaning. Rilke suggests that there may be a deeper, more profound truth beyond our everyday experience, and that love may be a path towards this truth. This idea is embodied in the image of the star as a drop of dew on a blade of grass - a reminder that our perception of reality may be limited, and that there may be a greater truth beyond our understanding.

Overall, The First Elegy is a complex and thought-provoking poem that offers a profound reflection on the human condition. It is a testament to Rilke's poetic genius, and a powerful reminder of the beauty and wonder of the world, even in the face of our mortality.

Conclusion

The First Elegy is a masterpiece of modernist poetry, and a profound meditation on the human experience of mortality. Through its use of striking imagery and philosophical depth, the poem offers a powerful reflection on some of the most fundamental questions of human existence. It is a testament to Rilke's poetic genius, and a reminder of the beauty and wonder of the world, even in the face of our mortality.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Poetry Duino Elegies: The First Elegy, written by Rainer Maria Rilke, is a masterpiece of poetic expression that has captured the hearts and minds of readers for generations. This elegy is the first of ten that Rilke wrote during his stay at the Castle Duino in Italy, and it is widely regarded as one of the greatest works of modernist poetry.

At its core, The First Elegy is a meditation on the human condition, and the ways in which we struggle to find meaning and purpose in a world that often seems indifferent to our existence. Rilke explores these themes through a series of vivid and evocative images, drawing on a rich and varied set of metaphors to convey the complexity and depth of his ideas.

One of the most striking aspects of The First Elegy is its use of language. Rilke's writing is dense and complex, filled with intricate wordplay and subtle allusions that reward careful reading and close attention. His use of metaphor is particularly powerful, as he draws on a wide range of images to convey the many different facets of his ideas.

For example, in the opening lines of the elegy, Rilke describes the world as a "great book" that we are all called upon to read. This metaphor sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as Rilke explores the many different ways in which we can interpret and understand the world around us.

Throughout the elegy, Rilke also draws on a number of other powerful metaphors to explore the human condition. He describes our lives as "a house with many rooms," each of which represents a different aspect of our existence. He also compares our struggles to those of a tree, which must endure the harshness of winter before it can bloom again in the spring.

Another key theme of The First Elegy is the idea of transcendence. Rilke suggests that, despite the many challenges and difficulties we face in life, there is always the possibility of rising above our circumstances and achieving a higher level of understanding and awareness.

This idea is expressed most powerfully in the final lines of the elegy, where Rilke writes:

"Perhaps we are here in order to say: house, bridge, fountain, gate, pitcher, fruit-tree, window - at most: column, tower... But to say them, you must understand, Oh to say them more intensely than the things themselves ever dreamed of existing."

Here, Rilke suggests that the true purpose of our lives is not simply to exist, but to transcend our limitations and achieve a deeper understanding of the world around us. He suggests that, through the power of language and imagination, we can create a reality that is more intense and meaningful than anything we might encounter in the physical world.

Overall, The First Elegy is a powerful and deeply moving work of poetry that explores some of the most fundamental questions of human existence. Through its rich and evocative language, its complex and nuanced metaphors, and its profound insights into the human condition, it has earned its place as one of the greatest works of modernist literature.

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