Religion

In Cassocks Clad

by Rainer Maria Rilke 1875–1926

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

Religion

In cassocks clad I have had many brothers
In southern cloisters where the laurel grows,
They paint Madonnas like fair human mothers
And I dream of young Titians and of others
In which the God with shining radiance glows.

But though my vigil constantly I keep
My God is dark--like woven texture flowing,
A hundred drinking roots, all intertwined;
I only know that from His warmth I'm growing.
More I know not: my roots lie hidden deep
My branches only are swayed by the wind.

MLA

Rilke, Rainer Maria. “In Cassocks Clad.” Translated by Jessie Lemont. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/rilke/42/.

Chicago

Rilke, Rainer Maria. “In Cassocks Clad.” Translated by Jessie Lemont. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/rilke/42/.

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