Rilke's Book of Hours: Love Poems to God

A phenomenally moving collection painstakingly translated from the original German. I was enthralled from the first page. Whether you are spiritual or not , religious or not, you cannot help be moved by the genuine feeling crafted into each word.

I am a poet myself and have found This collection of poems by Rilke beautiful, inspiring and thought provoking. A few years ago when i was first introduced to this book I was so taken by it that I bought paper back copies of it as a gift to a special education class i was trying to help in some way, plus I have found that Much of my own work today has been strongly influneced bY This edition of Rilke's book oF hours. It is the only edition I know about. As a poet I can say that it is not always neccessary to conform to ryhme and meter in a poem for it to be good. Rhyme and meter are generally forgotten by the reader while the images and emotions that are provoked can stay with a person for years.In these poems considered as private prayers by the author as well as in other translations of different work by Rilke the language just flows and is beautiful. It touches and speaks to us about the internal questions all human beings have about creation and existence. one need not be religious to love these poems and even a atheist would love them.When You consider poetry a verbal expression of emotions ,thoughts and experineces and not just a intellectual exersize and if you love language in general you can appreciate these poems. Only a person who is void of a soul and human feelings and lacks sensativity wouldnt like these poems. I found thembreath taking and deep as if the poet were comtemplating the meaning of life while he wrote them.

What a unique relationship to the Divine -- I can be more of that. Will you miss me, God, when I am gone.

I love every poem in this book and everything I’ve ever read by Rilke. You won’t regret reading this.

“Hours” is a part of my daily reading time. The translation is beautiful and the original German is on the facing page. A very personal addition to his “letters”. This gives an onsite to both God and Rilke.

Translation is always a difficult craft. In many places throughout this book it is clear the translators struggled - hurdles they in part admit in the introduction. For those of us who do not have a head for languages, it would be almost impossible to refer to the original German text. Anita Barrows and Joanna Macy have produced an excellent rendering of one of the world's greatest classical spiritual poets. I found the titles in German irritating without their own line of translation, but, I am reliably informed by an English/German scholar that the English translations of the verses are more than good. Rilke has a breathtaking approach to God - a deeply spiritual intimacy - through poems that are essentially prayers, but prayers that certainly don't conform to any 'normal' liturgy. Reading more than one a day would be too much for me. Reader be warned - the maturity of these prayer/poems can be deeply moving to the soul.(Br Graham-Michael)

These are some of Rilke's earlier works, and I have loved seeing the brilliant beginnings of his work through these poems. There is a necessary darkness in some, and then there are those with such illuminating insights I have to pause and ponder his words wanting them to sink deeply into my spirit. His mysticism is what draws me to him. As an artist and mystic poet myself, I appreciate all aspects of his process and revel in the beauty of his writing. This book is essential for those who seek a deeper understanding of Rilke's journey. Love Without Distance: A Heartscape of Art and Verse

If you love naturalists like N Scott Momaday or Jim Harrison, Rilke is a necessary read! Absolutely flawless!