Thursday, September 30, 2010

Already ripening barberries grow red

Already ripening barberries grow red,
the aging masters scarce breathe in their bed.
Who is not rich, with summer nearly done,
will never find a self that is his own.

Who is unable now to close his eyes,
certain that many visages within
wait slumbering until night shall begin
and in the darkness of his soul will rise,
is like an aged man whose strength is gone.

Nothing will touch him in the days to come,
and each event will cheat him and betray,
even you, my God. And you are like a stone,
that draws him to a lower depth each day.

-– Rainer Maria Rilke, Poems from the Book of Hours

1 comment:

Wally B said...

Your blog is always full of ripe and tasty surprises.