God speaks to each of us

"To nourish the sacred rather than the certain is no small thing." Stephanie Dowrick

Below are two translations of the same poem by Rilke. Rilke, is a 20th century visionary poet, whose stunning and intimate conversations with the divine open a way to a personal relationship with God free of dogma and human intervention. I include both translations, as they are remarkably different and yet both beautiful. This poetry, much like Rumi's, although with very different tone, can be used as a meditation to go inwards towards the divine. Rilke made no claims about his relationship with God, and sought not to provide answers about the question of humanity's relationship to the divine.

Translation 1

God speaks to each of us before we are,
Before he's formed us then, in cloudy speech,
But only then, he speaks these words to each
And silently walks with us from the dark:

Driven by your senses, dare
To the edge of longing. Grow
Like a fire's shadowcasting glare
Behind assembled things, so you can spread
Their shapes on me as clothes.

Don't leave me bare.

Let it all happen to you: beauty and dread.
Simply go no feeling is too much
And only this way can we stay in touch.

Near here is the land
That they call Life.
You'll know when you arrive
By how real it is.

Give me your hand.


Translation 2

God speaks to each of us as he makes us,

then walks with us silently out of the night.

These are the words we dimly hear:
You, sent out beyond your recall,
go to the limits of your longing.

Embody me.

Flare up like flame
and make big shadows I can move in.
Let everything happen to you: beauty and terror.
Just keep going. No feeling is final.
Don’t let yourself lose me.

Nearby is the country they call life.
You will know by its seriousness.

Give me your hand.