Interir Portrait

[tapeinhead]

You don't survive in me
because of memories;
nor are you mine because
of a lovely longing's strength.

What does make you present
is the ardent detour
that a slow tenderness
traces in my blood.

I do not need
to see you appear;
being born sufficed for me
to lose you a little less.
--Rainer Maria Rilke

Comments

[angelajenessa]

Mind me asking whose translation this is -- seems to lack the beauty of the translation I always read.

[tapeinhead]

A. Poulin

Would you please post your translation?

[angelajenessa]

Oh I think I misspoke myself. I do not have a translation of this - it just sounded stilted like many of the translations of Rilke do. I was just wanting to know who did it. Stephen Mitchell is my favorite translator of his work - but I probably already told you that. If I knew German I would take a stab at it - alas, I do not!