Religion

Initiation

by Rainer Maria Rilke 1875–1926

Translated by Jessie Lemont (1918) · From The Book of Pictures

Religion

Whosoever thou art! Out in the evening roam,
Out from thy room thou know'st in every part,
And far in the dim distance leave thy home,
Whosoever thou art.
Lift thine eyes which lingering see
The shadows on the foot-worn threshold fall,
Lift thine eyes slowly to the great dark tree
That stands against heaven, solitary, tall,
And thou hast visioned Life, its meanings rise
Like words that in the silence clearer grow;
As they unfold before thy will to know
Gently withdraw thine eyes--

MLA

Rilke, Rainer Maria. “Initiation.” Translated by Jessie Lemont. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/rilke/10/.

Chicago

Rilke, Rainer Maria. “Initiation.” Translated by Jessie Lemont. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/rilke/10/.

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