'Autumn Day' by Rainer Maria Rilke
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1902Four TranslationsLord: it is time. The summer was immense.
Lay your shadow on the sundials
and let loose the wind in the fields.Bid the last fruits to be full;
give them another two more southerly days,
press them to ripeness, and chase
the last sweetness into the heavy wine.Whoever has no house now will not build oneanymore.
Whoever is alone now will remain so for a longtime,
will stay up, read, write long letters,
and wander the avenues, up and down,
restlessly, while the leaves are blowing.Translated by Galway Kinnell and Hannah Liebmann,"The Essential Rilke" (Ecco)
Lord, it is time. The summer was too long.
Lay your shadow on the sundials now,
and through the meadow let the winds throng.Ask the last fruits to ripen on the vine;
give them further two more summer days
to bring about perfection and to raise
the final sweetness in the heavy wine.Whoever has no house now will establish none,
whoever lives alone now will live on long alone,
will waken, read, and write long letters,
wander up and down the barren paths
the parks expose when the leaves are blown.Translated by William Gass,"Reading Rilke: Reflections on the Problem of Translation" (Knopf)
Lord: it is time. The huge summer has gone by.
Now overlap the sundials with your shadows,
and on the meadows let the wind go free.Command the fruits to swell on tree and vine;
grant them a few more warm transparent days,
urge them on to fulfillment then, and press
the final sweetness into the heavy wine.Whoever has no house now, will never have one.
Whoever is alone will stay alone,
will sit, read, write long letters through the
evening,
and wander the boulevards, up and down,
restlessly, while the dry leaves are blowing.Translated by Stephen Mitchell,"The Selected Poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke" (Random House)
Lord, it is time now,
for the summer has gone on
and gone on.
Lay your shadow along the sun-
dials and in the field
let the great wind blow free.
Command the last fruit
be ripe:
let it bow down the vine --with perhaps two sun-warm days
more to force the last
sweetness in the heavy wine.He who has no home
will not build one now.
He who is alone
will stay long
alone, will wake up,
read, write long letters,and walk in the streets,
walk by in the
streets when the leaves blow.Translated by John Logan,"Homage to Rainer Maria Rilke," (BOA Editions)Original German
Herbsttag
Herr: es ist Zeit. Der Sommer war sehr gross.Leg deinen Schatten auf die Sonnenuhren,
und auf den Fluren lass die Winde los.Befiehl den letzten Fruchten voll zu sein;
gieb innen noch zwei sudlichere Tage,
drange sie zur Vollendung hin und jage
die letzte Susse in den schweren Wein.Wer jetzt kein Haus hat, baut sich keines mehr.
Wer jetzt allein ist, wird es lange bleiben,
wird wachen, lesen, lange Briefe schreiben
und wird in den Alleen hin und her
unruhig wandern, wenn die Blatter treiben.-- Rainer Maria Rilke, Paris, Sept. 21, 1902
Editor 1 Interpretation
Autumn Day by Rainer Maria Rilke
Are you looking for a poem that perfectly captures the melancholic beauty of autumn? Look no further than Rainer Maria Rilke's "Autumn Day". This classic poem, originally written in German and translated into various languages, is a masterpiece of lyrical expression and profound insight into the nature of life and death.
Poem Analysis
Let's start by analyzing the poem itself. "Autumn Day" is a short but powerful poem consisting of just eight lines. The poem is written in the form of a single stanza, with each line composed of ten syllables. This gives the poem a rhythmic flow that is both soothing and captivating.
The first line of the poem sets the tone for the entire piece: "Lord, it is time." The use of the word "Lord" invokes a sense of reverence and submission to a higher power. The speaker acknowledges that time is passing, and that there is a sense of urgency in the air. The next line continues this theme: "The summer was immense."
Here, the speaker acknowledges the passing of summer, but not in a mournful way. Instead, the speaker marvels at the immensity of summer, almost as if to say that it was too much to bear. The third line brings a sense of melancholy: "Lay your long shadows on the sundials."
This line is a beautiful example of Rilke's mastery of language. The image of long shadows falling on sundials is both haunting and evocative. It suggests the passing of time in a way that is both natural and inevitable. The fourth line continues this theme: "And on the meadows let the winds go free."
Here, the speaker is urging nature to take its course. The winds blowing free on the meadows suggest a sense of liberation and release. The next line is one of the most famous in the poem: "Command the last fruits that they shall be full."
This line is a call to action, urging nature to make the most of its remaining time. The image of the last fruits being full is both beautiful and sad, suggesting that there is still something to be gained even as time is running out. The seventh line is equally powerful: "Give them another two more southerly days."
Here, the speaker is asking for just a little more time. The two more southerly days suggest a desire for warmth and comfort before the inevitable onset of winter. The final line of the poem is a beautiful summary of the entire piece: "Press their ripeness into the wine of our lives."
Here, the speaker suggests that the fruits of nature can be transformed into something even more beautiful in the course of our lives. The image of pressing ripeness into wine is both sensuous and profound, suggesting that even in the face of death, there is still something to be gained.
Interpretation
So what does all of this mean? "Autumn Day" is a meditation on the passing of time and the inevitability of death. The poem suggests that there is a beauty in this process, even as it is painful and sad. The speaker acknowledges the passing of summer, but does not mourn it. Instead, the speaker marvels at its immensity, suggesting that it was almost too much to bear.
The image of long shadows falling on sundials is both haunting and evocative. It suggests the passing of time in a way that is both natural and inevitable. The winds blowing free on the meadows suggest a sense of liberation and release. The speaker is urging nature to take its course, to make the most of its remaining time.
In the end, the poem suggests that even in the face of death, there is still something to be gained. The fruits of nature can be transformed into something even more beautiful in the course of our lives. The image of pressing ripeness into wine is both sensuous and profound, suggesting that even in the face of death, there is still something to be gained.
Conclusion
"Autumn Day" is a powerful and beautiful poem that captures the essence of autumn in a way that is both melancholic and uplifting. The poem suggests that there is a beauty in the passing of time and the inevitability of death, and that even in the face of these things, there is still something to be gained.
Rainer Maria Rilke was a master of language and poetic expression, and "Autumn Day" is a shining example of his talent. The poem is a true masterpiece, and it continues to inspire and move readers to this day.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Autumn is a season that is often associated with change, transformation, and reflection. It is a time when the leaves turn golden and red, the air becomes crisp, and the days grow shorter. It is a season that has inspired poets and writers for centuries, and one of the most beautiful and poignant poems about autumn is "Autumn Day" by Rainer Maria Rilke.
Rilke was a German poet who lived from 1875 to 1926. He is considered one of the greatest poets of the 20th century and is known for his lyrical and introspective style. "Autumn Day" is one of his most famous poems and was written in 1902. It is a short but powerful poem that captures the essence of autumn and the fleeting nature of life.
The poem begins with the line "Lord, it is time." This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem and establishes a sense of urgency. The speaker is addressing a higher power, perhaps God or the universe, and is acknowledging that time is passing quickly. The use of the word "Lord" also adds a religious element to the poem, suggesting that the speaker is contemplating the passage of time in a spiritual context.
The second line of the poem reads, "The summer was immense." This line is significant because it contrasts with the first line. While the first line acknowledges the passing of time, the second line emphasizes the magnitude of what has passed. The use of the word "immense" suggests that the summer was long and full of life, but it is now over.
The third line of the poem reads, "Lay your long shadows on the sundials." This line is a metaphor for the changing of the seasons. The sundial is a symbol of time, and the shadows represent the changing of the seasons. The use of the word "long" suggests that the shadows are growing longer as the days grow shorter. This line also emphasizes the fleeting nature of time and the inevitability of change.
The fourth line of the poem reads, "And over the meadows let the winds go free." This line is significant because it suggests that the speaker is ready for change. The winds represent change and movement, and the speaker is asking for them to be set free. This line also suggests that the speaker is ready to let go of the past and embrace the future.
The fifth line of the poem reads, "Command the last fruits to be ripe." This line is a metaphor for the end of the harvest season. The last fruits represent the end of the summer and the beginning of autumn. The use of the word "command" suggests that the speaker is acknowledging the power of nature and the inevitability of change.
The sixth line of the poem reads, "Grant them another hour of sun." This line is significant because it suggests that the speaker is not quite ready to let go of the summer. The use of the word "grant" suggests that the speaker is asking for a favor, perhaps from the higher power addressed in the first line. This line also emphasizes the fleeting nature of time and the desire to hold onto what is passing.
The seventh and final line of the poem reads, "And urge them on to fulfillment, and drive the last sweetness into the heavenly wine." This line is a metaphor for the end of life. The fruits represent life, and the heavenly wine represents the afterlife. The use of the word "urge" suggests that the speaker is encouraging the fruits to fulfill their purpose before they pass on. This line also suggests that the speaker is contemplating the nature of life and death and the importance of living a fulfilling life.
Overall, "Autumn Day" is a beautiful and poignant poem that captures the essence of autumn and the fleeting nature of life. The poem is full of metaphors and symbolism that emphasize the passage of time and the inevitability of change. The use of religious language and imagery adds a spiritual element to the poem, suggesting that the speaker is contemplating the passage of time in a larger context. This poem is a reminder to embrace the present moment and to live a fulfilling life before it is too late.
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