Monday, August 27, 2007
Lösch mir die Augen aus: ich kann dich sehen
Extinguish my eyes, I'll go on seeing you.
Seal my ears, I'll go on hearing you.
And without feet I can make my way to you,
without a mouth I can swear your name.
Break off my arms, I'll take hold of you
with my heart as with a hand.
Stop my heart, and my brain will start to beat.
And if you consume my brain with fire,
I'll feel you burn in every drop of my blood.
–Rainer Maria Rilke, from the Book of Hours
(translation: Anita Burrows and Joanna Macy)
Seal my ears, I'll go on hearing you.
And without feet I can make my way to you,
without a mouth I can swear your name.
Break off my arms, I'll take hold of you
with my heart as with a hand.
Stop my heart, and my brain will start to beat.
And if you consume my brain with fire,
I'll feel you burn in every drop of my blood.
–Rainer Maria Rilke, from the Book of Hours
(translation: Anita Burrows and Joanna Macy)
