Imaginary Life History

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english translation

Imaginary Life History

First a childhood, limitless and free
of goal and renouncing. O unconscious bliss.
Suddenly limits, fear, school, drudgery,
the fall into temptation and sharp loss.

Defiance. Bent, the child becomes the bender,
revenging on others what he suffered through.
Loved and dreaded, savior, wrestler, winner
and conqueror, inflicting blow on blow.

And then alone in vastness, light, and cold.
Yet deep within the person’s grown-up state,
a gasping for the first, the world of old. . . .

Then God leapt out from where he lay in wait.

 

      — Translated from the German of Rainer Maria Rilke
              by Susan McLean

 

 

original German poem

“Imaginärer Lebenslauf”

Imaginärer Lebenslauf
  
  
Erst eine Kindheit, grenzenlos und ohne
Verzicht und Ziel. O unbewußte Lust.
Auf einmal Schrecken, Schranke, Schule, Frohne
und Absturz in Versuchung und Verlust.

Trotz. Der Gebogene wird selber Bieger
und rächt an anderen, daß er erlag.
Geliebt, gefürchtet, Retter, Ringer, Sieger
und Überwinder, Schlag auf Schlag.

Und dann allein im Weiten, Leichten, Kalten.
Doch tief in der errichteten Gestalt
ein Atemholen nach dem Ersten, Alten . . .

Da stürzte Gott aus seinem Hinterhalt.

 

     — Rainer Maria Rilke
           (Original German poem)

Imaginary Course of Life
  
  
First a childhood, limitless and without
renunciation and goal. O unconscious delight.
Suddenly, terror, limit, school, drudgery,
and the fall into temptation and loss.

Defiance. The bent child becomes himself the bender,
and revenges on others what he succumbed to.
Loved, dreaded, rescuer, wrestler, winner
and conqueror, blow on blow.

And then alone in vastness, light, cold.
But deep in the grown-up character,
a gasping for the first, the old [world]. . . .

Then God leapt out from his place of ambush.

 

     — Susan McLean
           (Literal translation of the original poem)