Thanks for your poem and for the reminder of Rilke. I have not got to know him as well as I always intended.
I am interested in poems in translation. Because I have just enough German to know at least the sounds I wanted to read the original to myself. It being the internet I found myself just now back in 2015 at Serendipity, at that time run from Bryn Mawr College, and reading a participant calling herself (?) Persistence. She had a curious story, a copy of the original and a translation.
I am tempted by the experience into the metaphor of 'flow' for our existence, as in rivers and memory. Remember Mnemosyne! Decades ago now my work took me to Budapest and my picking up a book 'The Lost Rider', a selection of Hungarian poetry and matched translations in English. Sadly I have no Hungarian so could not hear them in my head, but some of the translations had been made by poets whose work I knew; Ted Hughes. Edwin Morgan, Vernon Watkins. It was a powerful read beside the Danube and the crazy flags of Europe. Miklos Radnoti, 1909 -1944, born among as he termed them 'the poets of innocence' represented the generation lost to war, and Arpad Toth, 1886-1928, took on the distance to the star in 'Soul to Soul': ever present stuff.
Thanks Phillip! Your comments are a poem. Reading an original in the language it is written in is a gift. I have seen many different versions of Rilke’s words translated from German to English. One word can change a poem and create different imagery, feelings and meaning for the reader. I make my best attempt to interact as closely with the original as possible. Great vs Unending change so much for me.
Two more translations
I live my life in widening circles
that reach out across the world.
I may not complete this last one
but I give myself to it.
I circle around God, around the primordial tower.
I’ve been circling for thousands of years
and I still don’t know: am I a falcon,
a storm, or a great song?
Translation: J.Macy
I live my life in spreading rings
that encompass all things
I might never reach the last one,
But I will try.
I circle around God
Around the ancient tower
As I have circled for a thousand years
And I still don’t know if I am a falcon
A storm, or an endless song.
Translation: Unknown
I am a novice on Hungarian modern poets.
Something tells me we would have some great conversations. Thank you so much for reading and responding Phillip!
Father Pierre Teilhard de Chardin said, "We're not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience." So essentially it's all part of it. Perfect imperfection. The tears and the joy, the challenges and struggles and the "conjuring with the angels" ( Jamie Millard).
“We are a way for the universe to know itself." This is such an incredible thought! Makes the term "consciousness" interesting. Thanks for this meteor shower of insights, beautiful words and feelings of coming home. 🙏💕 This essay and the poem especially totally create a feeling in me of being deeply understood! Thank you!
Good morning to you; at least I think it's morning--there's light out the window so it is day.
Just wanted to thank you for the mention of Micheal Meade. Been off the grid and 'on' the last few days listening to some podcasts, still going strong. Going to listen to one with Bly and Meade: up next. Anyway, I appreciate the tip. You writers and poets are going to be this winter's learning curve for me 'fer sure. Thanks friend.
Evening here in good old Ontario Canada. Glad you are enjoying the recommendations! Thanks for reading and for reaching out! Lots more poetic presence to come lol. Bless you Jeanne.
checking in to say read you loud and clear..........still discovering Meade but in the process, discovered another guy who is into runic studies, not sure if he is a myth-teller, but listened to an Irish woman interview him...there is a plethora of stuff out there to learn about; not sure why this sudden urge for war in the world when a person could be learning about more important things like runes , poetry, mythos, music, art, psychology., the nature of the infinite: the list is endless. and so is war in the middle east: Endless.
Thanks Jeanne! Yes, the world is a bit of a crazy place right now in need of more poetry, music, art and love. Keep getting lost on those paths and I’ll meet you in the spaces. Thanks for your support! Stay well my friend. 🙏❤️
I read this the day you mentioned my article about "Carbon," and I was left in awe by your late-night post. Thank you for sharing. I must say you are a romantic visionary poet, a true healer!
Thanks Katerina! Your kindness is a blessing! I thought this poem echoed your article pretty nicely! Thanks for connecting all the dots in your writing. Thank you for reading this here! 🙏❤️
Thanks for your poem and for the reminder of Rilke. I have not got to know him as well as I always intended.
I am interested in poems in translation. Because I have just enough German to know at least the sounds I wanted to read the original to myself. It being the internet I found myself just now back in 2015 at Serendipity, at that time run from Bryn Mawr College, and reading a participant calling herself (?) Persistence. She had a curious story, a copy of the original and a translation.
I am tempted by the experience into the metaphor of 'flow' for our existence, as in rivers and memory. Remember Mnemosyne! Decades ago now my work took me to Budapest and my picking up a book 'The Lost Rider', a selection of Hungarian poetry and matched translations in English. Sadly I have no Hungarian so could not hear them in my head, but some of the translations had been made by poets whose work I knew; Ted Hughes. Edwin Morgan, Vernon Watkins. It was a powerful read beside the Danube and the crazy flags of Europe. Miklos Radnoti, 1909 -1944, born among as he termed them 'the poets of innocence' represented the generation lost to war, and Arpad Toth, 1886-1928, took on the distance to the star in 'Soul to Soul': ever present stuff.
Thanks Phillip! Your comments are a poem. Reading an original in the language it is written in is a gift. I have seen many different versions of Rilke’s words translated from German to English. One word can change a poem and create different imagery, feelings and meaning for the reader. I make my best attempt to interact as closely with the original as possible. Great vs Unending change so much for me.
Two more translations
I live my life in widening circles
that reach out across the world.
I may not complete this last one
but I give myself to it.
I circle around God, around the primordial tower.
I’ve been circling for thousands of years
and I still don’t know: am I a falcon,
a storm, or a great song?
Translation: J.Macy
I live my life in spreading rings
that encompass all things
I might never reach the last one,
But I will try.
I circle around God
Around the ancient tower
As I have circled for a thousand years
And I still don’t know if I am a falcon
A storm, or an endless song.
Translation: Unknown
I am a novice on Hungarian modern poets.
Something tells me we would have some great conversations. Thank you so much for reading and responding Phillip!
Beautiful poem!
Thanks so much for reading Mo!
Beautiful poem and brilliant commentary.
Thanks Anna 🙏❤️
Beautiful poem. Thank you.
Father Pierre Teilhard de Chardin said, "We're not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience." So essentially it's all part of it. Perfect imperfection. The tears and the joy, the challenges and struggles and the "conjuring with the angels" ( Jamie Millard).
Thanks Johanna! I totally agree.
Maybe we are souls “using” a human experience.
Its definitely a spiral 🌀 and those angels are getting louder. Thanks for reading and commenting. 🙏❤️
“We are a way for the universe to know itself." This is such an incredible thought! Makes the term "consciousness" interesting. Thanks for this meteor shower of insights, beautiful words and feelings of coming home. 🙏💕 This essay and the poem especially totally create a feeling in me of being deeply understood! Thank you!
Thank you! This poem for me was singing with that deep awareness of Being in this world yet not of it! Thanks so much once again 🙏❤️
Thank you Jamie, always lovely to be reminded of Rilke!
As a translator [German «=» English] I couldn't help but try my own version. Here it is – following the rhythm and rhyming pattern of the original:
I live my life in rings that wax
and cast themselves across the things
I might not make the final track
but I intend to give it a spin
I orbit God, that primeval form,
go round and round thousands years long
and I don’t yet know: am I a falcon, a storm
or one grand song.
(translation: Veronika Bond)
Thank you Veronika! What a great poem! The best final lines ever. Goosebumps. 🙏❤️
Good morning to you; at least I think it's morning--there's light out the window so it is day.
Just wanted to thank you for the mention of Micheal Meade. Been off the grid and 'on' the last few days listening to some podcasts, still going strong. Going to listen to one with Bly and Meade: up next. Anyway, I appreciate the tip. You writers and poets are going to be this winter's learning curve for me 'fer sure. Thanks friend.
Evening here in good old Ontario Canada. Glad you are enjoying the recommendations! Thanks for reading and for reaching out! Lots more poetic presence to come lol. Bless you Jeanne.
checking in to say read you loud and clear..........still discovering Meade but in the process, discovered another guy who is into runic studies, not sure if he is a myth-teller, but listened to an Irish woman interview him...there is a plethora of stuff out there to learn about; not sure why this sudden urge for war in the world when a person could be learning about more important things like runes , poetry, mythos, music, art, psychology., the nature of the infinite: the list is endless. and so is war in the middle east: Endless.
Thanks Jeanne! Yes, the world is a bit of a crazy place right now in need of more poetry, music, art and love. Keep getting lost on those paths and I’ll meet you in the spaces. Thanks for your support! Stay well my friend. 🙏❤️
Those widening circles! How did I miss this first time around :)
Thanks Will 🙏❤️
Stars
Birth
In the Dust
Of Death
All that was
Shone
Again
Becomes the light
Coalescing
The Dark Womb of
No Thing
Spirals faster
Into Nebulas
Nursing
The New
Stars
Into Galaxies
Bring with the Nectar
Of Sophia
Indeed Alicia ❤️🔥
I read this the day you mentioned my article about "Carbon," and I was left in awe by your late-night post. Thank you for sharing. I must say you are a romantic visionary poet, a true healer!
Thanks Katerina! Your kindness is a blessing! I thought this poem echoed your article pretty nicely! Thanks for connecting all the dots in your writing. Thank you for reading this here! 🙏❤️