Reading Rilke
For the creator must be a world for himself….
– Rainer Maria Rilke
“Letters to a Young Poet”
He makes me feel
abandoned at a border
hording verses
in my pocket
like gold to bribe
the guards
But they’re not
I take them out at night
try stitching them together
whittling away ’til something
like a rustic poem takes shape
I wonder what he would say to me
though I am not young
and not quite free
4 thoughts on "Reading Rilke "
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I love the visual element of this poem, makes it feel very alive!
That ending is a wow, loved this
He makes me feel/abandoned at a border is a great opening line and ending in the space between not young and not free brings us to a beautiful end.
Love this one, Lee! Whittling away ‘tim something like a rustic poem takes shape.