Duino Elegies <br /> <br />First Elegy <br /> <br />Oh on earth if we cry out, <br />And in heaven, which angle would respond? <br />Even if there is one to embrace us, still we would shiver, <br />For how can we survive in front of his mighty existence? <br />Oh, beauty is merely our first encounter of terror, <br />When we can still bear and adore its awesomeness, <br />That it disdains to wipe out all of us. <br />For every angle is terrifying. <br />So we must swallow our own dark sobbing. <br />But to whom we can ask for help? <br />Not angels, not people, and the animals? <br />But the cunning animals have already figured out <br />That we are not at home, <br />And what’s left, only the trees, <br />On the hillside they stand, and we pass by them daily. <br />Such loyal presence becomes some habits, <br />That gives us pleasures so we can move on and about. <br /> <br />And the night, o yeah, at night, <br />When the wind gushing from outer space and licking our faces- <br />Oh, for whom she would not wait? <br />This mildly disappointed lady with so much effort, <br />And her lonely heart has to bear for all her desires. <br />But is it much easier for lovers? <br />Ah, we are only trying to manage by staying together, <br />And hoping that we can somehow survive the conclusion of our fate. <br />Can we comprehend this? <br />For we only throw our arms into the empty air <br />Trying to embrace what we breathe day by day- <br />Maybe only the birds can feel the airflow <br />And flip their wings with more passions. <br />....... <br /> <br /> <br />(Rainer Maria Rilke/I incorrectly edited it the way I like, that I feel it is much easier for me to memorize)<br /><br />Laijon Liu<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/rilke-duino-elegies/
