She sat just like the others at the table.
But on second glance, she seemed to hold her cup
a little differently as she picked it up.
She smiled once. It was almost painful.

And when they finished and it was time to stand
and slowly, as chance selected them, they left
and moved through many rooms (they talked and laughed),
I saw her. She was moving far behind

the others, absorbed, like someone who will soon
have to sing before a large assembly;
upon her eyes, which were radiant with joy,
light played as on the surface of a pool.

She followed slowly, taking a long time,
as though there were some obstacle in the way;
and yet: as though, once it was overcome,
she would be beyond all walking, and would fly.

Added: Feb 20 2003 | Viewed: 2852 times | Comments (0)

Poet: Rainer Maria Rilke
Poem: Going Blind

There are no comments for this poem. Why not be the first one to post something about it?

Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, Going Blind, has not yet been commented on. You can click here to be the first to post a comment about it. Of course you can also always discuss poems by Rainer Maria Rilke with others on the Poetry Connection poetry forum!