Rainer Maria Rilke’s “Letter to a Young Poet:” A Tribute -2

We are “unspeakably alone,” he says, especially
during the deepest and most important matters.
A “whole constellation of events,”
to be fulfilled, as one soul helps the other!

Two things thus he suggest:
Irony of Life and Books!
Both of it, strength…
learning and applying, unfolding it thus!

Let not Irony control you, he says
during those uncreative moments one has!
Use it completely if you can
taking hold of your life, as you move on!

But, if you feel scared of its growing familiarity
Turn! Turn to more serious subjects…
In front of which, it becomes
small and helpless!

Search into the depth of things
where it never descends…
On arriving, “at the edge of” such “greatness,”
“find out, if it arises from the necessity of your Being!”

For two things again might happen, in that case
either, it will fall apart,
under the influence of serious things!
Or it will grow strong, an instrument
through which you will form your art!

Books, a suggestion, are second
fall for books: learn, live and love them!
Thousand and thousand time it returns
of whatever the life becomes!

An important thread in being
amongst the thread of disappointment,
experiences and joy!
Acknowledging two names thus:
great Danish poet J. P.Jaconbsen
and sculptor Auguste Rodin!

Bestowing him with depth and eternity
“the greatest essence behind his creativity,” he says.
Short story, “Mogens”
and novel Niels Lyhne he suggests
engulfing one in happiness and
limitlessness of an inconceivable world!