German Original: "Ihm ist, als ob es tausend Staebe gebe, und hinter tausend Staeben keine Welt"
English Translation: "To him it is, as if their are a thousand bars, and behind a thousand bars no world"
This line from the famous poem "Der Panther" is easily one of the most powerful thoughts within Rilke's poetry. The panther paces within his small cage looking not outside but only seeing the bars in front of him. It's wild nature has forgotten what it means to be free and the bars of its prison are the only existent reality anymore. Rilke's time was full of political turmoil with strong parties within the Austro- Hungarian empire calling for an end to the monarchy. This strive and call for freedom is exemplified in this quote from this truly powerful poem.
Interpreted as a plea for stronger animal rights in a time when zoos kept their animals in tiny, unfit cages or as a metaphor for the imprisonment of the mind within an oppressive system, this quote is strong either way. It comes from the later stages of Rilke's literary career and shows a deep insight into the psyche of the animal. The original version of the poem contains a side note saying "im Jardin de Plantes, Paris", meaning the botanical and zoological garden of Paris, showing the inspiration for this poem coming from a real panther. Rilke shows, within this quote, the incredible connection human and animal psyche share, or at least the connection he saw.
German Original: "Und endlich mach ich noch mein Gesicht mit beiden Augen zu; wie's dann in der Hand liegt mit seinem Gewicht sieht es fast aus wie Ruh. Damit sie nicht meinen ich hätte nicht, wohin ich mein Haupt tu."
English Translation: "And finally I enclose my face with both eyes; how it lays in my hand, it almost looks like resting. So nobody of them can think I had no place to put my head."
Within the poem "The song of beggars", Rilke again shows deep insight into the human psyche. This final verse of the poem exemplifies this through the thought process of a possibly mentally confused beggar. The character puts his face into his hands and when closing his eyes, believes that this shows that he has a place in the world. The hand of a beggar is his last possession, and so he pretends to sleep on it, showing people that he has not lost everything.
This example of human pride is artfully described by Rilke. Even when all is lost and one has reached the bottom of society, personal pride needs to be kept up for the persons sanity, or in some cases insanity. The song of beggars was written around 1907, when Rilke was living within a society that was stricken with poverty. Seeing beggars sleep on the streets was probably a common occurrence for him. This quote from this late stage poem shows a sort of humility in Rilke, when he gives pride even to the lowest. The tone of the quote is in no way desperate, indicating that the character is willing to live on and fight for another day.
German Original: "Gebt mir die Hand, schenkt mir (im) Weitergehn noch einen Blick, der schon ins Leben tauchte, aus dem der neue und noch niegebrauchte Gott seine Hände euch entgegenhält. Ihr dürft hinaus. Es wartet eine Welt."
English Translation: "Give me your hand, while passing gift me just one glance, that has dived into live, from which the new and never used god gives you his hands. You are released. A world awaits."
This quote comes from an earlier work of Rilke. Within this phase the religious tendencies of his work were still stronger. The character in the poem talks directly to a group of children amassed around him, sending them off into life. The character of death is portrayed as a very benevolent figure that wants children to live and share their joy with him. He tells them that, as they have never seen any strive (the new and never used god) they should go and see the world, it waits for them.
This portrayal of death as a benevolent servant of God is typical of Rilke's work. Even if the character is never named, his role in the world becomes clear throughout the poem. He asks the children just for a glance, so as to remember him when they are ready.
