Autumn Day
by Rainer Maria Rilke
Lord, it is time. The summer was too long.
Lay down thy shadow over the sundials,
and on the meadows let the winds blow strong.
Bid the last fruit to ripen on the vine;
allow them still two friendly southern days
to bring them to perfection and to force
the final sweetness in the heavy wine.
Who has no house will not now build him one.
Who is alone will now be long alone,
will waken, read, and write long letters
and through the barren pathways up and down
restlessly wander when dead leaves are blown.
Rainer Maria Rilke (Bohemian-Austrian, 1875-1926) is one of the greatest poets to have written in the German language. "Autumn Day" was translated by C. F. MacIntyre.
by Rainer Maria Rilke
Lord, it is time. The summer was too long.
Lay down thy shadow over the sundials,
and on the meadows let the winds blow strong.
Bid the last fruit to ripen on the vine;
allow them still two friendly southern days
to bring them to perfection and to force
the final sweetness in the heavy wine.
Who has no house will not now build him one.
Who is alone will now be long alone,
will waken, read, and write long letters
and through the barren pathways up and down
restlessly wander when dead leaves are blown.
Rainer Maria Rilke (Bohemian-Austrian, 1875-1926) is one of the greatest poets to have written in the German language. "Autumn Day" was translated by C. F. MacIntyre.
