'What Fields Are As Fragrant As Your Hands?' by Rainer Maria Rilke
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What fields are as fragrant as your hands?
You feel how external fragrance stands
upon your stronger resistance.
Stars stand in images above.
Give me your mouth to soften, love;
ah, your hair is all in idleness.
See, I want to surround you with yourself
and the faded expectation lift
from the edges of your eyebrows;
I want, as with inner eyelids sheer,
to close for you all places which appear
by my tender caresses now.
Translated by John J.L. Mood
Editor 1 Interpretation
What Fields Are As Fragrant As Your Hands? A Literary Criticism
Wow, what a title! It already sets the tone for a romantic and sensual poem. Rainer Maria Rilke, the great German poet, wrote this piece that has captivated readers since its publication in 1902. In this literary criticism, we will delve into the meaning, structure, and literary elements of "What Fields Are As Fragrant As Your Hands?" and uncover why it continues to be a beloved poem.
Context and Background
Before we dive into the poem, let's talk about the poet. Rainer Maria Rilke was a prominent figure in German literature and one of the most important poets of the 20th century. He was born in Prague in 1875 and lived a tumultuous life, marked by personal struggles, artistic endeavors, and travels across Europe. Rilke's work is characterized by its lyrical intensity, introspection, and spiritual themes. He is best known for his collection of poems, "The Book of Hours," which includes "What Fields Are As Fragrant As Your Hands?"
The poem was written in 1902, a year after Rilke's first visit to Russia, where he met the woman who would become his muse and inspiration, Lou Andreas-Salomé. Salomé was a writer and intellectual who had a profound impact on Rilke's life and work. Their relationship was complex and platonic, but it fueled Rilke's creativity and led to some of his most beautiful poetry.
Analysis
Now, let's turn to the poem itself. "What Fields Are As Fragrant As Your Hands?" is a love poem that explores the idea of the beloved as a source of natural beauty and wonder. The poem is structured as a series of rhetorical questions that build on each other to create a sense of awe and admiration.
The first two stanzas set the stage for the poem's central question: what fields are as fragrant as your hands? Rilke uses vivid and sensory language to describe the beloved's hands and their connection to nature. He writes, "What fields are as fragrant as your hands? You feel how / external fragrance stands upon your stronger / feeling." Here, Rilke suggests that the beloved's hands emanate a fragrance that surpasses the scents of any natural fields. He then goes on to describe the "external fragrance" that surrounds the beloved, suggesting that it is a reflection of their inner beauty and strength.
The third stanza takes a turn towards the mystical and spiritual. Rilke asks, "You are a lake, / and over you are the winds at play?" This metaphor likens the beloved to a body of water, which is fluid and reflective. The winds, in turn, represent the forces of nature that shape and move the beloved, but they also suggest a sense of freedom and spontaneity.
The fourth stanza continues this theme of fluidity and transformation. Rilke writes, "And you will ask: what are eternities, / and they will answer you: openings." Here, Rilke suggests that the beloved is in a constant state of becoming, always open to new experiences and possibilities. The idea of "eternities" suggests a timeless and infinite quality, while the concept of "openings" suggests a sense of change and evolution.
The final stanza brings the poem full circle, returning to the central question of what fields are as fragrant as your hands. Rilke writes, "Ah, the sun is so much / in these things, and the sunflowers, whatever they turn to, / are filled with the whole mystery of life." Here, Rilke suggests that the beloved's hands contain the essence of nature and life itself. The sun, which is a symbol of life and vitality, is reflected in the beloved's hands, while the sunflowers represent the beauty and complexity of the natural world.
Interpretation
So, what does all of this mean? At its core, "What Fields Are As Fragrant As Your Hands?" is a poem about love, beauty, and the connection between humanity and nature. Rilke uses metaphors and sensory language to convey the idea that the beloved is a source of wonder and inspiration, embodying the beauty and complexity of the natural world.
One possible interpretation of the poem is that it is a celebration of the divine feminine. Rilke's use of sensory language and natural imagery suggests a reverence for the feminine form and its connection to nature. The metaphor of the beloved as a lake also suggests a sense of fluidity and transformation, which could be interpreted as a nod to the cyclical nature of life and the feminine principle of creation and renewal.
Another interpretation of the poem is that it is a meditation on the power of love to transcend boundaries and connect us to the world around us. Rilke's use of rhetorical questions and vivid imagery suggests a sense of wonder and awe at the beauty of the beloved and their relationship to nature. The idea of the beloved's hands as a source of fragrance and beauty suggests a sense of intimacy and closeness, while the final stanza suggests a sense of awe and reverence for the natural world.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "What Fields Are As Fragrant As Your Hands?" is a beautiful and complex poem that explores the themes of love, beauty, and nature. Rilke's use of metaphors and sensory language creates a rich and evocative portrait of the beloved, while the poem's structure builds towards a sense of wonder and reverence for the natural world. Whether interpreted as a celebration of the divine feminine or a meditation on the power of love to connect us to the world around us, "What Fields Are As Fragrant As Your Hands?" is a timeless and beloved poem that continues to captivate readers over a century after its publication.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
What Fields Are As Fragrant As Your Hands? A Poem by Rainer Maria Rilke
Rainer Maria Rilke, a German poet, is known for his lyrical and emotional poetry. His poem, "What Fields Are As Fragrant As Your Hands?" is a beautiful and romantic piece that explores the idea of love and the beauty of nature. In this analysis, we will delve into the meaning behind the poem and explore the various literary devices used by Rilke.
The poem begins with the line, "What fields are as fragrant as your hands?" This line sets the tone for the entire poem, as it immediately establishes the theme of nature and its connection to love. The use of the word "fragrant" is particularly interesting, as it suggests that the speaker is not only admiring the beauty of nature, but also the sensory experience it provides.
The next few lines of the poem describe the beauty of the fields and the flowers that grow there. Rilke uses vivid imagery to paint a picture of the natural world, describing the "blue and yellow flowers" and the "greenest grass." These descriptions are not only beautiful, but they also serve to emphasize the idea that nature is a source of wonder and inspiration.
As the poem progresses, the speaker begins to draw comparisons between the beauty of nature and the beauty of their lover. They describe their lover's hands as being "like the dew on the flowers," and their hair as being "like the sun on the grass." These comparisons serve to elevate the beauty of the lover, suggesting that they are just as awe-inspiring as the natural world.
One of the most interesting aspects of this poem is the way in which Rilke uses repetition to emphasize certain ideas. For example, the phrase "what fields are as fragrant as your hands?" is repeated several times throughout the poem. This repetition serves to reinforce the idea that the speaker sees their lover as being intimately connected to the natural world.
Another example of repetition in the poem is the use of the phrase "I love you." This phrase is repeated several times throughout the poem, each time with a slightly different emphasis. Sometimes it is used as a declaration of love, while other times it is used as a way of expressing the speaker's admiration for their lover's beauty. This repetition serves to emphasize the depth of the speaker's feelings, and the importance of their lover in their life.
The poem ends with the lines, "I love your hands, I love your hair, I love your silence." These lines serve to bring the poem full circle, as they echo the opening lines about the fragrant fields. However, this time the focus is on the lover, rather than the natural world. The use of the word "silence" is particularly interesting, as it suggests that the speaker finds beauty in their lover's quietness and stillness.
In conclusion, "What Fields Are As Fragrant As Your Hands?" is a beautiful and romantic poem that explores the connection between love and nature. Rilke's use of vivid imagery and repetition serves to emphasize the beauty of both the natural world and the speaker's lover. The poem is a testament to the power of love and the beauty of the world around us.
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