! ! Rilke In Rome Comments

These letters were certainly more 'poetic' than those to other friends.

What I meant was that Rilke gave up whatever was necessary including being jobless in order to be a poet. His letters were written and addressed to his own soul. H

Not a motive. just a fact.

Michael I do not think that Rilke's motives were to write letters of encouragement to young budding poets while he himself was struggling through the agony of finding himself as a poet. If there is any truth to this it would include the fact that he would NEVER admit or acknowledge that. H

...and maybe it's worth adding that Rilke was still going through the agonies of 'finding himself' as a poet, when he wrote these courteous letters to a slightly younger poet?

I've simply extracted lines and more continuous passages, without changing any words. Just an instructive poetic exercise in 'playing being Rilke'. And I would hope it would encourage those who yawn, to become a little more interested in the world outside themselves, perhaps even read Rilke's 'real' poetry?

Michael this is beautiful. I'm not sure how much is you and how much is Rilke, but thanks for bringing this together for us. Well done. (and ignore the ignorant comments!) Raynette

yawn