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“Maiden Melancholy” by Rainer Maria Rilke 🇦🇹 (4 Dec 187529 Dec 1926)
Translated from the German by Jessie Lemont
A young knight comes into my mind
As from some myth of old.
He came! You felt yourself entwined
As a great storm would round you wind.
He went! A blessing undefined
Seemed left as when church-bells declined
And left you wrapt in prayer.
You fain would cry aloud—but bind
Your scarf about you and tear-blind
Weep softly in its fold.
A young knight comes into my mind
Full armored forth to fare.
His smile was luminously kind
Like glint of ivory enshrined
Like a home longing undivined
Like Christmas snows where dark ways wind
Like sea-pearls about turquoise twined
Like moonlight silver when combined
With a loved book’s rare gold.