Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Der Panther by Rainer Maria Rilke
I'd be remiss to let you escape without a taste of the poet Rainer Maria Rilke
(if you dont know of his work already)
A personal favorite: Der Panther or "The Panther"
It comes from a period when Rilke spent a great deal of time at the Zoo, the Jardin Des Plantes in France-
There are several astonishing poems from this collection, it is noteworthy that he was studying alongside the sculptor Rodin during this time, who suggested Rilke spend time there at the zoo in order to truly "see" the animals-
I think this translation among the best:
Translation by Walter Arndt:
The Panther
His gaze has been so worn by the procession
Of bars that it no longer makes a bond.
Around, a thousand bars seem to be flashing,
And in their flashing show no world beyond.
Of bars that it no longer makes a bond.
Around, a thousand bars seem to be flashing,
And in their flashing show no world beyond.
The lissom steps which round out and re-enter
That tightest circuit of their turning drill
Are like a dance of strength about a center
Wherein there stands benumbed a mighty will.
That tightest circuit of their turning drill
Are like a dance of strength about a center
Wherein there stands benumbed a mighty will.
Only from time to time the pupil's shutter
Will draw apart: an image enters then,
To travel through the tautened body's utter
Stillness--and in the heart to end.
Will draw apart: an image enters then,
To travel through the tautened body's utter
Stillness--and in the heart to end.
Some other translations here ( I also like Stephen Mitchells)
http://thefoolsparadise.com/der-panther/index.htm
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