Death & Dying

The Tomb of a Young Girl

by Rainer Maria Rilke 1875–1926

Translated by Jessie Lemont (1918) · From New Poems

Death & Dying

We still remember! The same as of yore
All that has happened once again must be.
As grows a lemon-tree upon the shore--
It was like that--your light, small breasts you bore,
And his blood's current coursed like the wild sea.

That god--
who was the wanderer, the slim
Despoiler of fair women; he--the wise,--
But sweet and glowing as your thoughts of him
Who cast a shadow over your young limb
While bending like your arched brows o'er your eyes.

MLA

Rilke, Rainer Maria. “The Tomb of a Young Girl.” Translated by Jessie Lemont. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/rilke/32/.

Chicago

Rilke, Rainer Maria. “The Tomb of a Young Girl.” Translated by Jessie Lemont. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/rilke/32/.

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