Quotes from book
The Book of Images

The Book of Images

The Book of Images is a collection of poetry by the Bohemian-Austrian poet and novelist Rainer Maria Rilke . It was first published in 1902 by Axel Juncker Verlag.


Rainer Maria Rilke photo

“Lord: it is time. The summer was immense.
Let thine shadows upon the sundials fall,
and unleash the winds upon the open fields.”

Herr: es ist Zeit. Der Sommer war sehr groß.
Leg deinen Schatten auf die Sonnenuhren,
und auf den Fluren laß die Winde los.
Herbsttag (Autumn Day) (as translated by Cliff Crego)
Das Buch der Bilder (The Book of Images) (1902)

Rainer Maria Rilke photo

“Slowly the evening changes into the clothes
held for it by a row of ancient trees.”

Der Abend wechselt langsam die Gewänder,
die ihm ein Rand von alten Bäumen hält.
Abend (Evening) (as translated by Cliff Crego)
Das Buch der Bilder (The Book of Images) (1902)

Rainer Maria Rilke photo

“Out of infinite longings rise
finite deeds like weak fountains,
falling back just in time and trembling.
And yet, what otherwise remains silent,
our happy energies—show themselves
in these dancing tears.”

Aus unendlichen Sehnsüchten steigen
endliche Taten wie schwache Fontänen,
die sich zeitig und zitternd neigen.
Aber, die sich uns sonst verschweigen,
unsere fröhlichen Kräfte—zeigen
sich in diesen tanzenden Tränen.
Initiale (Initial) (as translated by Cliff Crego)
Das Buch der Bilder (The Book of Images) (1902)

Rainer Maria Rilke photo

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