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

The Mountain, by Rainer Maria Rilke, translated by Susan McLean

8/21/2020

1 Comment

 
Picture
Snowy Morning at Koishikawa, by Katsushika Hokusai (Japan) 1831

The Mountain

Thirty-six and then a hundred times
the printmaker inscribed that mountain, torn
away and always driven back again
(thirty-six and then a hundred times)

to the inscrutable volcano, blissful,
full of seductiveness and reticence--
while it, in the apparel of its profile, 
did not hold back its own magnificence:

bursting forth a thousand times each day,
allowing each uniquely different night
to fall away, as if all were too tight, 
consuming every image straightaway,
improving on itself from shape to shape,
detached, remote, and taking no position--
at once turned knowing, like an apparition,
and rising into view through every gap.

Rainer Maria Rilke, translated by Susan McLean

Der Berg

Sechsunddreißig Mal und hundert Mal 
hat der Maler jenen Berg geschrieben, 
weggerissen, wieder hingetrieben 
(sechsunddreißig Mal und hundert Mal) 

zu dem unbegreiflichen Vulkane, 
selig, voll Versuchung, ohne Rat, - 
während der mit Umriss Angetane 
seiner Herrlichkeit nicht Einhalt tat: 

tausendmal aus allen Tagen tauchend, 
Nächte ohne gleichen von sich ab 
fallen lassend, alle wie zu knapp; 
jedes Bild im Augenblick verbrauchend, 
von Gestalt gesteigert zu Gestalt, 
teilnahmslos und weit und ohne Meinung -, 
um auf einmal wissend, wie Erscheinung, 
sich zu heben hinter jedem Spalt. 

Rainer Maria Rilke

Literal translation:
The Mountain

Thirty-six times and a hundred times
the artist inscribed that mountain,
torn away, driven back again
(thirty-six times and a hundred times)

to the unknowable volcano,
beatific, full of temptation, without advice--
while it, clothed in its outline,
kept back nothing of its magnificence:

emerging a thousand times every day,
allowing nights without equal to fall
away from it, as if all were too tight;
consuming each image in the blink of an eye,
improving from shape to shape,
indifferent and distant and without opinion--
only to become knowing suddenly, like an apparition,
raising itself up behind every gap.

Rainer Maria Rilke, translated by Susan McLean

Susan McLean has published translations of Latin, French, and German poetry in Arion, Transference, Subtropics, and elsewhere. Her book of translations of the Latin poet Martial, Selected Epigrams (U. of Wisconsin P, 2014), was a finalist for the PEN Center USA Translation Award.  Her own books of poetry include The Best Disguise and The Whetstone Misses the Knife.

Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926) was born in Prague, but lived all over Europe.  His German poems are known for their lyricism.  He worked for a while as Auguste Rodin’s secretary and was much influenced by artists and works of art that he saw. 
1 Comment
Erna M Kelly
8/23/2020 11:01:01 am

I love that you have published not only the German original but also the literal as well as your lyrical translation.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    The Ekphrastic Review
    Picture
    Current Prompt
    COOKIES/PRIVACY
    This site uses cookies to deliver your best navigation experience this time and next. Continuing here means you consent to cookies. Thank you.
    Join us on Facebook:
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture



    ​
    ​Archives
    ​

    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 theekphrasticreview@gmail.com 

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