The Ekphrastic Review
  • The Ekphrastic Review
  • The Ekphrastic Challenges
    • Challenge Archives
  • Ebooks
  • Prizes
  • Book Shelf
    • TERcets Podcast
  • The Ekphrastic Academy
  • Give
  • Submit
  • Contact
  • About/Masthead

Buddha in the Mandorla, Rilke Translation by Susan McLean

10/13/2019

1 Comment

 
Picture
Buddha Amida, seated on lotus pedestal, with mandorla. Dairen-ji Temple, Osaka, Japan. Mid-18th Century.


Buddha in the Mandorla

Centre of all centres, core of cores,
almond self-enclosed and ever-sweetening--
all of this, from here to all the stars,
is your fruit’s flesh: we bid you greeting.

Look, you feel how nothing any longer
clings to you; your shell is infinite,
and the strong juice extends there, pressing it.
A radiance from outside makes it stronger,

for up above, ablaze and full, your suns 
have turned around to face you. Yet 
in you already something that 
endures beyond them has begun.

Susan McLean (translation)

Buddha in der Glorie

Mitte aller Mitten, Kern der Kerne, 
Mandel, die sich einschließt und versüßt, - 
dieses Alles bis an alle Sterne 
ist dein Fruchtfleisch: Sei gegrüßt. 

Sieh, du fühlst, wie nichts mehr an dir hängt; 
im Unendlichen ist deine Schale, 
und dort steht der starke Saft und drängt. 
Und von außen hilft ihm ein Gestrahle, 

denn ganz oben werden deine Sonnen 
voll und glühend umgedreht. 
Doch in dir ist schon begonnen, 
was die Sonnen übersteht.

Rainer Maria Rilke (1908)

Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926) was one of the leading modernist poets in German.  He was born in Prague, but traveled all over Europe.  He served for a while as Rodin's secretary and was deeply interested in the visual arts.

Susan McLean is a retired professor of English from Southwest Minnesota State University. She has published two books of her own poetry and a book of translations of Martial's Latin epigrams.  She also translates poetry from French and German.
1 Comment
Rose Mary Boehm link
10/15/2019 10:34:19 am

I am impressed by the quality of this translation. Susan McLean manages to give us form AND content as soriginally intended. I have read her bio and therefore know she is a consummate professional, therefore perhaps doesn't need my praise. Still, so many professionals miss. Tranlsation of Rilke's poetry is especially difficult to get right. Thank you.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    The Ekphrastic Review
    Picture
    Current Prompt
    Picture
    COOKIES/PRIVACY

    This website uses marketing and tracking technologies. Opting out of this will opt you out of all cookies, except for those needed to run the website. Note that some products may not work as well without tracking cookies.

    Opt Out of Cookies
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Join us: Facebook and Bluesky
    @ekphrasticreview.



    ​
    ​Archives
    ​

    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015

    Lorette C. Luzajic [email protected] 

  • The Ekphrastic Review
  • The Ekphrastic Challenges
    • Challenge Archives
  • Ebooks
  • Prizes
  • Book Shelf
    • TERcets Podcast
  • The Ekphrastic Academy
  • Give
  • Submit
  • Contact
  • About/Masthead