Moonlight night

Rainer Maria Rilke

Moonlight night

South-German night! the ripe moon hangs above

 Weaving enchantment o'er the shadowy lea.

 From the old tower the hours fall heavily

 Into the dark as though into the sea—

 A rustle, a call of night-watch in the grove,

 Then for a while void silence fills the air;

 And then a violin (from God knows where)

 Awakes and slowly sings: Oh Love ... Oh Love ...

Death

Before us great Death stands

 Our fate held close within his quiet hands.

 When with proud joy we lift Life's red wine

 To drink deep of the mystic shining cup

 And ecstasy through all our being leaps—

 Death bows his head and weeps.

Remembrance

Expectant and waiting you muse

 On the great rare thing which alone

 To enhance your life you would choose:

 The awakening of the stone,

 The deeps where yourself you would lose.

In the dusk of the shelves, embossed

 Shine the volumes in gold and browns,

 And you think of countries once crossed,

 Of pictures, of shimmering gowns

 Of the women that you have lost.

And it comes to you then at last—

 And you rise for you are aware

 Of a year in the far off past

 With its wonder and fear and prayer.

(Translator: Jessie Lemont)