What is the subject of your poem? <br />‘I was there.’ <br /> <br />Why is it so important to you? <br />‘I was there.’ <br /> <br />How can you describe it? <br />‘I was there.’ <br /> <br />What did you know of it? <br />‘I was there.’ <br /> <br />And what did it teach you? <br />‘Of itself, nothing; <br />only that I was there.’ <br /> <br />And what will that bring to you? <br />‘Now, all may be known.’ <br /> <br />Then what can your poem share with others? <br />‘Be there too.’ <br /> <br />What can you say now <br />to those who thirst after knowledge? <br />‘Be here.’ <br /> <br />What can you say now <br />to those who thirst after God? <br />‘Be here.’ <br /> <br />And what of poetry and praise? <br />‘Always now.’ <br /> <br />And what of your soul? <br />‘Always here, and always now.’ <br /> <br />What then, the Creator’s message? <br />‘Be here; be now; be always.’ <br /> <br />And what the Creator’s smile of love? <br />‘The here; the now; the always.’<br /><br />Michael Shepherd<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/for-rilke-2/
