GRGR(7) Deeply Surrender

[schwitterz1 at juno.com]

. . .we love inside ourselves
not one person
not some future being
but seething multitudes
not a particular child
but the fathers
who lie at rest
in our depths
like ruined mountains
and the dry riverbeds
of earlier mothers
and the whole soundless landscape
under the clouded or clear sky
of its destiny
THIS, my dear
came before you.

And you yourself, what do you know?
You stirred up prehistory in your lover.
What passions welled up from those long dead beings?
What women hated you
What kind of men lost in darkness
Did you awaken within his youthful veins?
Dead children strained to touch you . . .
Oh gently, gently
Do a loving days work for his sake
Lead him toward the garden
Let him have more than enough of the night . . .

Hold him back . . .

from Third Elegy of Rilke's Duino Elegies