Ich bete wieder, du Erlauchter
Today I just want to share a poem with you. It was written by Rainer Maria Rilke and can be found in Rilke's Book of Hours: Love Poems to God. The original work was written in German. Since I know very few German words, I cannot vouche for the translation*. I can, however, attest to the fathomless sincerity of this prayer; the utter humility before a holy God.
I am praying again, Awesome One.
You hear me again, as words
from the depths of me
rush toward you in the wind.
I've been scattered in pieces,
torn by conflict,
mocked by laughter,
washed down in drink.
In alleyways I sweep myself up
out of garbage and broken glass.
With my half-mouth I stammer you,
who are eternal in your symmetry.
I lift to you my half-hands
in wordless beseeching, that I may find again
the eyes with which I once beheld you.
I am a house gutted by fire
where only the guilty sometimes sleep
before the punishment that devours them
hounds them out into the open.
I am a city by the sea
sinking into a toxic tide.
I am a stranger to myself, as though someone unknown
had poisoned my mother as she carried me.
It's here in all the pieces of my shame
that now I find myself again.
I yearn to belong to something, to be contained
in an all-embracing mind that sees me
as a single thing.
I yearn to be held
in the great hands of your heart --
oh let them take me now.
Into them I place these fragments, my life,
and you, God -- spend them however you want.
"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." -- 1 Peter 5: 5-7 (NIV)
I am praying again, Awesome One.
You hear me again, as words
from the depths of me
rush toward you in the wind.
I've been scattered in pieces,
torn by conflict,
mocked by laughter,
washed down in drink.
In alleyways I sweep myself up
out of garbage and broken glass.
With my half-mouth I stammer you,
who are eternal in your symmetry.
I lift to you my half-hands
in wordless beseeching, that I may find again
the eyes with which I once beheld you.
I am a house gutted by fire
where only the guilty sometimes sleep
before the punishment that devours them
hounds them out into the open.
I am a city by the sea
sinking into a toxic tide.
I am a stranger to myself, as though someone unknown
had poisoned my mother as she carried me.
It's here in all the pieces of my shame
that now I find myself again.
I yearn to belong to something, to be contained
in an all-embracing mind that sees me
as a single thing.
I yearn to be held
in the great hands of your heart --
oh let them take me now.
Into them I place these fragments, my life,
and you, God -- spend them however you want.
"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." -- 1 Peter 5: 5-7 (NIV)
* The editors/translators of this version have been criticized for taking too many interpretive liberties. A new and truer translation (with commentary) is set for release April 2008.
4 Comments:
Boy, I have no critism for the editors/translators! This is profound. Oh, that there would be this kind of mourning over our spiritual poverty; our sin and our shame! I love how the writer of Amazing Grace wrote, "that saved a wretch like me"! There just isn't much of this kind of repentence right now, I fear. But only the Holy Spirit can ignite it. Thank you for sharing this, Tanya.
Wow, thanks for sharing this, Tanya..
This is an amazing poem. True humility before God. I am always amazed that people can write like this. A gift from the Lord to bless others.
Thanks for sharing this, including the update on the new translation of Rilke's work that is coming out soon.
If you haven't read his "Letters to a Young Poet," you should. It is wonderful.
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