Love

Offering

by Rainer Maria Rilke 1875–1926

Translated by Jessie Lemont (1918) · From New Poems

Love

My body glows in every vein and blooms
To fullest flower since I first knew thee,
My walk unconscious pride and power assumes;
Who art thou then--thou who awaitest me?

When from the past I draw myself the while
I lose old traits as leaves of autumn fall;
I only know the radiance of thy smile,
Like the soft gleam of stars, transforming all.

Through childhood's years I wandered unaware
Of shimmering visions my thoughts now arrests
To offer thee, as on an altar fair
That's lighted by the bright flame of thy hair
And wreathéd by the blossoms of thy breasts.

MLA

Rilke, Rainer Maria. “Offering.” Translated by Jessie Lemont. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/rilke/37/.

Chicago

Rilke, Rainer Maria. “Offering.” Translated by Jessie Lemont. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/rilke/37/.

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