I found this poem by Rilke today and I am in love, utterly and completely in love with his images. This is what I was saying in my earlier post on Living Intuitively, Unfolding Organically but with far fewer and more beautiful words. . .
I believe in all that has never yet been spoken.
I want to free what waits within me
so that what no one has dared to wish for
may for once spring clear
without my contriving.
If this is arrogant, God, forgive me,
but this is what I need to say.
May what I do flow from me like a river,
no forcing and no holding back,
the way it is with children.
Then in these swelling and ebbing currents,
these deepening tides moving out, returning,
I will sing you as no one ever has,
streaming through widening channels
into the open sea.
-Rainer Maria Rilke
from Book of Hours:Love Poems to God, translated by Anita Barrows and Joanna Macy
“I will sing you as no one ever has,” the way sunshine sings scattered across a mountain lake, jewels of light dancing like the stars in the night sky. Sing my friends, sing your heart out until it flows from you like a river. Have a weekend full of wonder and freedom and song.
(photo above, taken on my retreat, at Lost Lake in Mount Hood National Forest – a great loop trail goes all the way around with stunning views of Mount Hood)
-Christine Valters Paintner
9 Responses
Hi Cathleen, I am delighted these words and images speak to you. I hope you had a wonderful time of retreat!
Both your earlier post and this poem express what I feel I’m on the edge of but haven’t had the words to express ~ and now here they are!! :) I too love water so your photo is so fitting. I also appreciate the sense of balance you spoke of earlier, another piece I long for in my life and trust that with thyme it will come… Thank you! Cathleen
Cheryl, what a beautiful image, yes lets join the songs that stir in each one of us and all of creation together.
Christine,
Your words to sing our hearts out welcome me like the first warmth of spring. May all our songs together form a harmonic chorus in the world!
Thanks Britt! :-)
Oh, beautiful, both the poem ands the photo.
Thanks Wendy and Songbird, the poem and image really spoke to me, will still be speaking to me for a while I think. . . nothing like finding the poem that expresses your heart’s deepest longing and I am mesmerized by the sunlight on the surface of the water.
I want to free what waits within me
so that what no one has dared to wish for
may for once spring clear
without my contriving.
This really speaks to what I’m finding in tomorrow’s gospel lesson, Christine, and still trying to put into words. Oh, and in my life, too!
This image draws me…it is water, but at first look it looked like a tree’s bark. Another good lectio visio image I feel…