May 2, 2011

Widening Circles

Painting by Marc Chagall

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.

The Book of Hours I, 2

11 comments:

  1. I like this one. I believe I will find The Book of Hours and read some more.

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  2. Well, I did find a very informative blog on The Book of Hours and a brief biography of Rilke.

    Thank you once again Ruth and Lorenzo for educating me on Rilke.

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    1. Hope you enjoy both. You may also want to listen to the podcast from "On Being" with an interview of Joann Macy, one of the translators/ editors of A Year With Rilke an The Book of Hours. She is the one who turned me on to Rilke. After you get to the On Being site, just search for Rilke.

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  3. Hi, Andrew. All thanks go to Rilke and the publishers, editors and translators of the fine book we draw on, and very special thanks to all commenters who so enrich this blog. Can you send the link to the blog you found on The Book of Hours?

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  4. We have learned how to fly, though not so perfectly as birds; we create storms both small and large, though lose control of them too easily; and we can and do give voice to beautiful song, often in thanks for the wonder we see all around us.

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  5. http://payingattentiontothesky.com/2011/01/04/the-book-of-hours-by-ranier-maria-rilke/

    This is the blog I found Lorenzo.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Andrew. I appreciate the extra background

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  6. This post gives me comfort, because, yes, I still don't know and I am circling, circling . . . .

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  7. wish I had written this, I've certainly thought it. especially the uncertainty at the end
    love the giving to the journey at hand regardless of the outcome

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"Everything is blooming most recklessly; if it were voices instead of colors, there would be an unbelievable shrieking into the heart of the night."

~ Rainer Maria Rilke

Go ahead, bloom recklessly!