I was required to memorize poetry when I was a child, then did so later in my teens. It can be a wonderful comfort to say these to oneself and sometimes others. 🥰
I think Rilke really seems to capture the slow, unavoidable decline of both nature and humanity here. The “ripening barberries” and “old asters” indicate a world teetering on death, time pushing everything toward their end. Those who lack wealth, both materially and mentally, face an empty existence, endlessly waiting for something, someone that will never arrive.
I feel that the line, “quietly close their eyes” speaks to exhaustion of an existential nature. For we who live disconnected from our inner-self are seemingly hollow and without hope. Life, lie after lie, betrayal after betrayal - and this constant cycle pulls us deeper and deeper into despair, into a life with no meaning.
I hear a strong voice in this one, almost a cautionary tale urging us to be rich, which means to be yourself. To trust in the largeness of your own mind and spirit. To hold onto your own internal locus of life--to really live it--especially in the second half of life (autumn and winter). I know I’ll enjoy nesting this one in my memory alongside some of his others, mostly from the Book of Hours.
I was required to memorize poetry when I was a child, then did so later in my teens. It can be a wonderful comfort to say these to oneself and sometimes others. 🥰
Tracy, absolutely. I’m new to the memorizing game, been going for about a year, and I really love it!
I think Rilke really seems to capture the slow, unavoidable decline of both nature and humanity here. The “ripening barberries” and “old asters” indicate a world teetering on death, time pushing everything toward their end. Those who lack wealth, both materially and mentally, face an empty existence, endlessly waiting for something, someone that will never arrive.
I feel that the line, “quietly close their eyes” speaks to exhaustion of an existential nature. For we who live disconnected from our inner-self are seemingly hollow and without hope. Life, lie after lie, betrayal after betrayal - and this constant cycle pulls us deeper and deeper into despair, into a life with no meaning.
Haven’t read Rilke for a while - thanks! 🍁🧡🍁
I hear a strong voice in this one, almost a cautionary tale urging us to be rich, which means to be yourself. To trust in the largeness of your own mind and spirit. To hold onto your own internal locus of life--to really live it--especially in the second half of life (autumn and winter). I know I’ll enjoy nesting this one in my memory alongside some of his others, mostly from the Book of Hours.
Well said!
Big fan of stones falling through water imagery and affect.
For sure. Something about being under water…
Something about being denser than one’s surrounds…