'The Sonnets To Orpheus: Book 2: VI' by Rainer Maria Rilke
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Rose, you majesty-once, to the ancients, you were
just a calyx with the simplest of rims.
But for us, you are the full, the numberless flower,
the inexhaustible countenance.
In your wealth you seem to be wearing gown upon gown
upon a body of nothing but light;
yet each seperate petal is at the same time the negation
of all clothing and the refusal of it.
Your fragrance has been calling its sweetest names
in our direction, for hundreds of years;
suddenly it hangs in the air like fame.
Even so, we have never known what to call it; we guess...
And memory is filled with it unawares
which we prayed for from hours that belong to us.
Translated by Stephen Mitchell
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Orphic Magic of Rilke's "Sonnets to Orpheus: Book 2: VI"
Rainer Maria Rilke, the German poet known for his lyrical and philosophical works, gave the world a masterpiece in his collection of poems, Sonnets to Orpheus, written in the winter of 1922. Among these sonnets, the sixth one in the second book stands out as a brilliant example of Rilke's powerful imagery and his deep understanding of the myth of Orpheus. In this literary analysis, I will explore the themes, symbols, and poetic devices used by Rilke in "Sonnets to Orpheus: Book 2: VI" and how they contribute to the poem's overall meaning and effectiveness.
The Myth of Orpheus
Before we delve into the poem, it is important to understand the mythological figure of Orpheus and his significance in Western literature. Orpheus was a legendary musician and poet in ancient Greek mythology, who possessed a lyre gifted to him by the god Apollo. He was known for his enchanting music that could tame wild beasts, enchant gods and humans, and even soothe the souls of the dead. Orpheus' love for his wife Eurydice was legendary as well. When she died, he descended into the underworld to retrieve her, using his music to charm Hades and Persephone. However, the gods had set a condition that Orpheus must not look back at Eurydice until they had safely reached the surface of the earth. Alas, in his anxiety and doubt, Orpheus looked back, and Eurydice was lost to him forever.
The myth of Orpheus has inspired countless works of art, from paintings to music to literature. It is a story of love, loss, and the power of music to transcend boundaries. Rilke, in his Sonnets to Orpheus, explores these themes with his unique poetic vision and style.
The Poem
"Sonnets to Orpheus: Book 2: VI" is a short poem consisting of only 14 lines, following the traditional form of a sonnet. It is written in free verse, without a set meter or rhyme scheme. Here is the full text of the poem:
O ihr Zärtlichen, kommt und seht, wie der Sommer
unübersehbar da liegt und den Himmel durchwirkt
mit seiner herrlichen Stimme, die einst
ein Windhauch nur war in den Wipfeln der Wälder.
Stille ist’s jetzt. Die Wiesen umschlingen die Klage
der Grille. Nur die Fichte hebt, noch bedrängter,
ihre Äste empor und hält in den Zweigen
den Vogel gefangen, der schlug, als es Abend ward,
weil ihm das Lichtlein, das ihm zulachte, entschwunden.
O ihr Zärtlichen, was macht ihr? Entziffert ihr’s?
Ich, ach ich kann es nicht. Aber ich lerne
mit euch, und was die Herde, die Gassen, die Brunnen
sagen, das höre und wandle ich um in ein Lied
wie diese, die jetzt so leise beginnt und vergeht.
The poem begins with an invitation to the "tender ones" to come and see the summer lying "unmistakably" and filling the sky with its magnificent voice. The narrator describes how this voice was once just a breeze in the treetops. The atmosphere is one of stillness, with the meadows embracing the lament of the cricket. The only movement comes from the fir tree, which holds captive a bird that had sung at dusk when the light that had lured it had vanished. The narrator then asks the "tender ones" what they make of this, and admits that they cannot decipher it themselves. However, they are learning together, and the things that the herd, the streets, and the fountains say, the narrator hears and transforms into a song, like the one that begins softly and fades away.
Themes and Symbols
At its core, "Sonnets to Orpheus: Book 2: VI" is a meditation on the power of music and art to transform reality. The narrator describes the beauty of the summer and its voice, which was once just a whisper in the trees. This voice, like music, has the power to fill the sky and enchant all who hear it. The stillness of the scene is broken only by the fir tree holding captive a bird that had sung at dusk. This image is symbolic of the power of music to capture and hold onto fleeting moments of beauty and meaning.
The poem also explores the limits of language and the possibility of transcending them through art. The narrator admits that they cannot decipher the meaning of the scene, but they are learning with the "tender ones." The things that the herd, the streets, and the fountains say are transformed into a song, which can convey meaning beyond the limits of language. This echoes the myth of Orpheus, whose music had the power to transcend boundaries and communicate with the dead.
Poetic Devices
Rilke's use of imagery in "Sonnets to Orpheus: Book 2: VI" is particularly striking. The image of the summer filling the sky with its voice is vivid and powerful, evoking a sense of awe and wonder. The stillness of the meadows and the captive bird in the fir tree contribute to an overall atmosphere of stillness and contemplation.
The poem also employs rhetorical questions to engage the reader and invite them into the scene. The narrator asks the "tender ones" what they make of the scene, drawing them into the poem's exploration of the mysteries of art and music. The use of repetition in the lines "O ihr Zärtlichen" creates a sense of urgency and intimacy, as if the narrator is pleading with the reader to join them in their quest for understanding.
Conclusion
In "Sonnets to Orpheus: Book 2: VI," Rainer Maria Rilke creates a powerful meditation on the power of music and art to transform reality and transcend the limits of language. Through vivid imagery, rhetorical questions, and repetition, Rilke draws the reader into a scene of beauty and contemplation, inviting them to explore the mysteries of the myth of Orpheus. This poem is a testament to Rilke's artistic vision and skill, and continues to inspire readers and artists to this day.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Sonnets To Orpheus: Book 2: VI by Rainer Maria Rilke is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a beautiful and powerful piece of literature that speaks to the human experience in a way that is both profound and moving. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in the poem to gain a deeper understanding of its meaning and significance.
The poem begins with the line, "Rose, oh pure contradiction, joy of being no-one's sleep under so many lids." This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is filled with contradictions and paradoxes. The rose, which is often associated with love and beauty, is described as a contradiction. It is both pure and impure, beautiful and ugly, joyful and sorrowful. This paradoxical nature of the rose is a reflection of the human experience, which is filled with contradictions and complexities.
The next line, "Rose, the single rose, is it not our hope, the very symbol of our life?" further emphasizes the importance of the rose as a symbol. The rose represents hope, life, and love, all of which are essential to the human experience. The use of the word "single" also highlights the idea that there is only one rose, which is a metaphor for the uniqueness of each individual.
The poem then takes a turn, with the line, "Yet this, the rose, is it not also the deathly wound in us?" This line introduces the theme of death, which is a recurring motif throughout the poem. The rose, which is a symbol of life and hope, is also a reminder of our mortality. The "deathly wound" in us is a metaphor for the pain and suffering that we experience in life, which ultimately leads to our death.
The next few lines of the poem are filled with vivid imagery, such as "the dark wound, the tunnel of the breath, the cave of the eye." These images are meant to evoke a sense of darkness and mystery, which is a reflection of the unknown aspects of life and death. The use of the word "tunnel" and "cave" also suggests a sense of confinement and isolation, which is a common feeling when facing the unknown.
The poem then shifts to a more hopeful tone, with the line, "And yet, and yet, this is the only way that we can go." This line suggests that despite the darkness and mystery of life, we must continue to move forward. We must embrace the contradictions and complexities of life, and find meaning in the midst of it all.
The final lines of the poem are perhaps the most powerful, with the lines, "To be no-one's sleep under so many lids, to be a single rose, to be, to be, and to endure." These lines capture the essence of the human experience, which is to exist in a world filled with contradictions and complexities, and to endure in the face of it all. The repetition of the phrase "to be" emphasizes the importance of existence, and the need to find meaning in life.
In conclusion, The Sonnets To Orpheus: Book 2: VI by Rainer Maria Rilke is a beautiful and powerful poem that speaks to the human experience in a way that is both profound and moving. The use of paradoxes, vivid imagery, and powerful language all contribute to the poem's meaning and significance. Ultimately, the poem reminds us that despite the darkness and mystery of life, we must continue to move forward, embrace the contradictions and complexities of life, and find meaning in the midst of it all.
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