For a Poet (Rilke)

We are used to his writing, but how did people see him in their love? A love letter about Rainer Maria Rilke written by Erika Mitterer.

Today I'd like to provide you with something special. We are accustomed to reading Rilke's poetry and discussing it. I'd like to present a poem to you that Erika Mitterer wrote about Rilke in the spring of 1922. The translation is made by me and below it you find the German original.

For a Poet (Rilke)

by Erika Mitterer, Spring 1922

For a Poet (Rilke)

In hushed down sounds, one well deep
Out of the sea of beauty you saved
You, after who Gods voice called for so long,
Chained light to night and night to light

What others sowed and what they never
Harvested, because they were tired —
You had time and never fell short,
And experienced the harvest's heavy lust.

The fruits are ripening on our lap
In which trusting us, you lowered them ….
— — — And we now grasp the outsized
Deeply sacred love, we were gifted by God.

Einem Dichter (Rilke)

Erika Mitterer, Frühjahr 1922

Verschwiegnen Klanges einen Bronnen tief 
Hast aus dem Meer der Schönheit du gerettet 
Du, nach dem lange Gottes Stimme rief 
Hast Licht an Nacht und Nacht an Licht gekettet

Was andre säten und was niemals sie 
Geerntet haben, weil sie müde waren — 
Du hattest Zeit und du versagtest nie 
Und hast des Erntens schwere Lust erfahren

Die Früchte reifen nun in unserm Schoße 
In den du, uns vertrauend sie gesenkt ....
— — — Und wir begreifen jetzt die übergroße 
Tiefheilge Liebe, die uns Gott geschenkt.

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Thoughts

You will find that this poem's expression is relatively straightforward. Still, the prolonged and intersected sentences can make it difficult to follow. A minor reordering will make clear what this is about:

In hushed down sounds, one well deep
Out of the sea of beauty You saved
What others sowed and what they never
Harvested, because they were tired —
You had time and never fell short,
And experienced the harvest's heavy lust.

Erika is evoking God in the remainder of the poem. In my opinion she does that to appeal to the deeply Christian Rilke. If you combine these parts, the whole story becomes clear. Rilke did God's work by harvesting the fruit. In doing so, he unlocked the kind of love only God can give.

A third theme are the long nights spend together and the heavy lust of harvesting. I’m sure you understand what this is about.

Thank you for reading my translation of Erika Mitterers poem!

Godspeed,
Tim