Monday, September 27, 2004

AUTUMN DAY by rilke - translated by stephen mitchell

Lord: it is time. The huge summer has gone by.
Now overlap the sundials with your shadows,
and on the meadows let the wind go free.

Command the fruits to swell on tree and vine;
grant them a few more warm transparent days,
urge them on to fulifillment then, and press
the final sweetness into the heavy wine.

Whoever has no house now, will never have one.
Whoever is alone now will stay alone,
will sit, read, write long letters through the evening,
and wander on the boulevards, up and down,
restlessly, while the dry leaves are blowing.

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