First I found a poem by Rilke and written in German. I could read one word “Nacht” which I took to be night. I followed this with a photo I took overlooking Wellington Harbour some years back. Then I went on to try and make a poem somehow. The only other word I got was “land”. And occasionally I thought I saw the word “and”. I went for the general shape of the poem after that. I have now read the translation which is very, very different. I think if Rilke might have been less of a joyous party goer than I made out.
Night is Upon Us
My window faces the world,
it is dark over the land –
as the evening comes
bringing soft melody
that soon resonates.
There my favourite café,
across the harbour it waits;
and we will go there by ferry,
to join in song with our friends.
Soft moon glowing …
I fall
under the spell of the moonglow.
I will write poems,
melancholy songs of the harbour,
poems of nights deep bliss.
I will tell of the beautiful view,
and how gently it set the mood
for joyous and ongoing celebrations
that will last
the long hours
and never end…
Benita H. Kape © 5.4.2018
Am Rande der Nacht
Meine Stube und diese Weite,
wach über nachtendem Land –
ist Eines. Ich bin eine Saite,
über rauschende breite
Resonanzen gespannt.
Die Dinge sind Geigenlieber,
von murrendem Dunkel voll;
drin träumt das Weinen der Weiber,
drin rührt sich im Schlafe der Groll
ganzer Geschlechter …
Ich soll
silbern erzittern: dann wird
Alles unter mir leben,
und was in den Dingen irrt,
wird nach dem Lichte streben,
das von meinem tanzenden Tone,
um welchen der Himmel wellt,
durch schmale, schmachtende Spalten
in die alten
Abgründe ohne
Ende fällt …
*
Rilke
benitakape 