Specify Books In Favor Of Rilke's Book of Hours: Love Poems to God
| Original Title: | Das Stunden-Buch |
| ISBN: | 1573225851 (ISBN13: 9781573225854) |
| Edition Language: | English |
Rainer Maria Rilke
Paperback | Pages: 166 pages Rating: 4.43 | 5068 Users | 349 Reviews
Details Based On Books Rilke's Book of Hours: Love Poems to God
| Title | : | Rilke's Book of Hours: Love Poems to God |
| Author | : | Rainer Maria Rilke |
| Book Format | : | Paperback |
| Book Edition | : | Anniversary Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 166 pages |
| Published | : | April 1st 1997 by Riverhead Books (first published 1899) |
| Categories | : | Poetry. Spirituality. Religion. Classics. European Literature. German Literature |
Description Toward Books Rilke's Book of Hours: Love Poems to God
At the beginning of the 20th century, a young German poet returned from a journey to Russia, where he had immersed himself in the spirituality he discovered there. He "received" a series of poems about which he did not speak for a long time - he considered them sacred, and different from anything else he ever had done and ever would do again. This poet saw the coming darkness of the century, and saw the struggle we would have in our relationship to the divine. The poet was Rainer Maria Rilke, and these love poems to God make up his Book of Hours.Rating Based On Books Rilke's Book of Hours: Love Poems to God
Ratings: 4.43 From 5068 Users | 349 ReviewsCrit Based On Books Rilke's Book of Hours: Love Poems to God
Du, Nachbar Gott, wenn ich dich manchesmalYou, God, who live next doorIf at times, through the long night, I trouble youwith my urgent knockingthis is why: I hear you breathe so seldom.I know youre all alone in that room.If you should be thirsty, theres no oneto get you a glass of water.I wait listening, always. Just give me a sign!Im right here.As it happens, the wall between usis very thin. Why couldnt a cryfrom one of usbreak it down? It would crumbleeasily,it would barely make a sound.ThisMy favorite poem of Rilke's is found in this book. I first read it in the bathroom of the Video Saloon where it had been written with sharpie in the first stall."I am praying again, Awesome One"(Ich bete wieder, du Elauchter)You hear me again, as wordsfrom the depths of merush toward you in the wind.Ive been scattered in pieces,torn by conflict,mocked by laughter,washed down in drink.In alleyways I sweep myself upout of garbage and broken glass.With my half-mouth I stammer you,who are eternal in
I read the forty pages of preface material and a bunch of the poems, and I was so hooked, I bought my own copy (a different version, which includes the German text as well), which I am using to really study the poems. The prefaces by each translator are marvelous. And the introduction that places the poems in the context of Rilke's life was concise and insightful. The translation notes were fascinating. Part of why I love this translation of the poems is that they are done by women, and women
I see why his work is loved. Here are three of the many passages I liked: I love the hours when Im blue, depressed, my senses sharpened and I wide awake;for then I have found, as in letters of late, my future life lived out like storiesand lived out at best. These hours give me assurance that I havethe room for a second, much fuller life. You see I want much. Perhaps I want it all: the dark that goes with any bottomless falland the sun-speckled climbing up.I cant believe this death spells dread;
My favorite poem of Rilke's is found in this book. I first read it in the bathroom of the Video Saloon where it had been written with sharpie in the first stall."I am praying again, Awesome One"(Ich bete wieder, du Elauchter)You hear me again, as wordsfrom the depths of merush toward you in the wind.Ive been scattered in pieces,torn by conflict,mocked by laughter,washed down in drink.In alleyways I sweep myself upout of garbage and broken glass.With my half-mouth I stammer you,who are eternal in
Amazing. I never thought I would like poetry. But these really speak to me. I read one several times a day. So good.
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