"Fig Tree, for such a long time..." 6th Duino elegy - Rilke

The fig tree provides the image of an unfolding which seems to omit the blossoming stage and proceed directly to fruiting, like Leda or even, perhaps even the angels we have met in earlier elegies. We, on the other hand, make a great display of our self conscious blossoming, and are already betrayed by the time we reach the time of our fruiting. But Heroes, like those who die young, respond directly to this innate call to fruition. Samson's heroics fruit with his bursting into life, and culminate with the destruction of the philistine power (barbarism).
The poet longs to be a boy again to begin like Samson the heroic life of acting rather than reacting. Even "storming through the stations of love" transfigured... a course not taken by all of us, who rather leave our fruiting till after its showy blossoming, if ever.

Translator :- Stephen Mitchell
Music :- Hans Zimmer's "Vide Cor Meum"

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Rainer
• Maria
• Rilke
• 6th
• duino
• elegy

[katerinabonvora]

mmm. =) interesting description too. i wonder if self-conscious blossoming can culminate into a powerful death from which a greater clarity or understanding is possible. sounds more like brute-force or mindless walking towards the cliff with only the possibility of awakening somewhere between the edge or in the falling.. hm. musing. =)

[Gesmehod]

a concert of pain and pleasure

[Idlinfarm]

Beautiful

[Elenkhos]

nicely done.

[almafarag]

sometimes i think that beauty is the lot of the melancholic lot

[TheSkepticalAtheist]

Excellent.

[Paramystical]

Thank you for this. As always, beautiful.

[Anekantavad]

You have the perfect voice for such as this. Thanks very much for sharing.