Mythology & Folklore

Kings in Legends

by Rainer Maria Rilke 1875–1926

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

Mythology & Folklore

Kings in old legends seem
Like mountains rising in the evening light.
They blind all with their gleam,
Their loins encircled are by girdles bright,
Their robes are edged with bands
Of precious stones--the rarest earth affords--
With richly jeweled hands
They hold their slender, shining, naked swords.

MLA

Rilke, Rainer Maria. “Kings in Legends.” Translated by Jessie Lemont. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/rilke/7/.

Chicago

Rilke, Rainer Maria. “Kings in Legends.” Translated by Jessie Lemont. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/rilke/7/.

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