poetry texts, poem archive at plagiarist.com

Though the world keeps changing its form
as fast as a cloud, still
what is accomplished falls home
to the Primeval.

Over the change and the passing,
larger and freer,
soars your eternal song,
god with the lyre.

Never has grief been possesed,
never has love been learned,
and what removes us in death

is not revealed.
Only the song through the land
hallows and heals.


Translated by Stephen Mitchell

Added: 2 Mar 2002 | Last Read: 8 Sep 2026 5:56 AM | Viewed: 5155 times

A PoetryNotes™ Analysis of The Sonnets To Orpheus: XIX by Rainer Maria Rilke, is Available!

A PoetryNotes™ eBook is available for this poem for delivery within 24 hours, and usually available within minutes during normal business hours.

ON SALE - only $29.95 19.95!

For more information...