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A poem by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926), translated by Ana Elsner
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R i l k e - is considered to be one of the greatest 20th century German-language poets. He was strongly influenced by the philosophers Schopenhauer and Nietzsche. His unique literary style, his use of symbolism and his veiled portrayal of moods and states-of-mind position Rainer Maria Rilke as a transitional figure between the traditional and the modernist poets.
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Buddha in der Glorie
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MITTE aller Mitten, Kern der Kerne,
Mandel, die sich einschließt und versüßt, -
dieses Alles bis an alle Sterne
ist dein Fruchtfleisch: Sei gegrüßt.
Sieh, du fühlst, wie nichts mehr an dir hängt;
im Unendlichen ist deine Schale,
und dort steht der starke Saft und drängt.
Und von außen hilft ihm ein Gestrahle,
denn ganz oben werden deine Sonnen
voll und glühend umgedreht.
Doch in dir ist schon begonnen,
was die Sonnen übersteht.
Aus: Der Neuen Gedichte Anderer Teil
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Buddha in Glory
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CENTER of all centers, nucleus of nuclei,
almond, that cocoons itself and sweetens, -
all this, up to all the stars,
is your fruited flesh: Be greeted.
See, you feel, how no more clings to you;
in infinity resides your vessel,
and there stands the potent nectar and is burgeoning.
And from the outside is promoted by a radiance,
for, in the highest, are your suns
fully and ardently turned about.
Certain in you is well begun,
that which surpasses (other) suns.
From: The New Poems' Other Part
Translation © Ana Elsner
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TWO POEMS by Friedrich Hölderlin (1770-1843)
Transcribed from the original German text by Ana Elsner
H ö l d e r l i n - was a famous German lyric poet who is widely recognized from his own time up until the present. His multi-facetted work was influenced by ancient Greek culture as well as by the French Revolution of 1789. It spans the Classical and Romantic schools in German literature. Hoelderlin is perhaps best known for "Andenken" ("Remembrance"), one of his greatest poems.
Here are two other samples of his poetic voice.
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D i e H e i m a t h .................................... H o m e :
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Froh kehrt der Schiffer heim an den stillen Strom
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Von fernen Inseln, wo er geerndtet hat;
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Wohl möcht' auch ich zur Heimath wieder;
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Aber was hab' ich, wie Laid, geerndtet?
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Ihr holden Ufer, die ihr mich auferzogt,
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Stillt ihr der Liebe Laiden? ach! gebt ihr mir,
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Ihr Wälder meiner Kindheit, wann ich
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Komme, die Ruhe noch Einmal wieder?
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+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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With Gladness the Boatman turns homeward to the River's Calm
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From Distant Isles, his Harvest done.
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Would that I, too, were homeward bound,
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Yet what have I but Sorrow reaped ?
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You blessed Banks, who gave me Succor,
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Will you assuage Love's Sorrow ? Oh, on my Return to you,
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You Woods of my spent Youth, will you restore to me
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Serenity once more ?
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Translation © Ana Elsner
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Ü b e r z e u g u n g : : : C O N V I C T I O N
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Als wie der Tag die Menschen hell umscheinet
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Und mit dem Lichte, das den Höhn entspringet,
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Die dämmernden Erscheinungen vereinet,
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Ist Wissen, welches tief der Geistigkeit gelinget.
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++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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Just as the Day bathes Man in Brightness
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And with the Light, which springs from High above,
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makes whole the dawning Apparitions,
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is Knowledge, which is accomplished deep within the Thinking Mind .
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Translation © Ana Elsner
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A poem by Ana Elsner
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E l s n e r - is a contemporary bi-lingual author and poet. Her poems have appeared in various literary journals and anthologies in the U.S. and abroad. Her most recent book "Ciphers Of Uncommon Origin - Poems By Ana Elsner, Volume I" was published by InstaPLANET Press in 2007.
In addition to writing her own poems and essays, she is engaged in translating works by German-language poets into English.
Ana Elsner's translations are characteristically far more precise than many others you may find.
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-:- -:- -:- -:- -:- DIE RETTUNG -:- -:- -:- -:- -:-
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fast
schon
sanft
eingeschläfert
von den wiegenden Wogen
der Tiefe
und doch
wieder
hervorgebracht,
im Regenbogen
geborgen,
ans Licht
des Lebens
wieder
zu atmen
dessen
Kostbarkeit
.
© Ana Elsner
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-:- -:- -:- -:- -:- THE RESCUE -:- -:- -:- -:- -:-
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almost
already
tenderly
put to sleep
by the cradling currents
of the deep
and yet
again
brought forth,
in the rainbow
saved,
to the light
of life
again
to breath
its
preciousness
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Translation © Ana Elsner
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Read a sample of Elsner's English-language poems: "Dawn"
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A Related Quote :
'' Poetry is a sort of Homecoming.''
- PAUL CELAN, Eastern European Poet and Holocaust Survivor (1920-1970)
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" P O E T R Y - i n - A R T " - Bold and contemporary Russian Lacquer Art painted on a traditional 'Matryoshka' nesting doll set. .......... From The Elsner Collection
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