Sense Of Something Coming - A poem by Rainer Maria Rilke


Poem of the Day \| Top 30 \| Poets \| Shopping \| Forums \| Search \| Comments Today, on July 20th, 2008, the site contains 193 poets, 8,680 poems and 4,518 comments.

Rainer Maria Rilke - Sense Of Something Coming

I am like a flag in the center of open space.
I sense ahead the wind which is coming, and must live
it through.
while the things of the world still do not move:
the doors still close softly, and the chimneys are full
of silence,
the windows do not rattle yet, and the dust still lies down.

I already know the storm, and I am troubled as the sea.
I leap out, and fall back,
and throw myself out, and am absolutely alone
in the great storm.

Added: on August 23rd, 2005 at 1:59 PM | Viewed: 3885 times | Comments (2)

Sense Of Something Coming - Comments and Information
Poet: Rainer Maria Rilke Poem: Sense Of Something Coming Comment 2 of 2, added on June 5th, 2006 at 2:17 AM. I have a book of rilke poems translated by m.d. herter norton, and mine's different too. in mine it's called "presentiment", which i think is cooler. i love this poem because it proves rilke is a genius. all geniuses can sense the imminence of doom or something coming the way us normal mortals cannot. and the fact that he expresses it in such a beautiful way just adds to his merit as a person, of course. Jill from United States Comment 1 of 2, added on August 23rd, 2005 at 1:59 PM. I have "An Anthology of World Poetry", edited by Mark Van Doren and originally published by Reynal & Hitchcock, New York, 1928. The translator for this poem is [Jessie Lemont], and he Titles it "PRESAGING", for Sense of Something Coming, and the wording is different. I include the poem as in The Anthology: PRESAGING I am like a flag unfurled in space, I scent the oncoming winds and must bend with them, While the things beneath are not yet stirring, While the doors close gently and there is silence in the chimneys And the windows do not yet tremble and the dust is still heavy--- Then I feel the storm and am vibrant like the sea And expand and withdraw into myself And thrust myself forth and am alone in the great storm. John M. Miller from United States More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, Sense Of Something Coming, has received 2 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by Rainer Maria Rilke with others on the Poetry Connection poetry forum!

Poem Info
Sense Of Something Coming Last read: 2008-07-16 22:24:44 Viewed 3885 times. Added on August 23rd, 2005 at 1:59 PM.

Rilke Info
Biography More Poems (104 poems) Books