In the poem To Hölderlin by Rainer Maria Rilke, Rilke pays tribute to the poet and philosopher Friedrich Hölderlin with words of admiration and reverence. In the introductory stanza of the poem, here translated by Stephen Miller in The Selected Poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke, Rilke gives one of the most eloquent depictions of the creative spirit I’ve encountered:
We are not permitted to linger, even with what is most
intimate. From images that are full, the spirit
plunges on to others that suddenly must be filled;
there are no lakes till eternity. Here,
falling is best. To fall from the mastered emotion
into the guessed-at, and onward.
Throughout the poem, Rilke describes many aspects of the creative spirit through his depictions of Hölderlin, but he greatly emphasizes the mystical, divine, and childlike qualities of Hölderlin’s spirit. It is depicted as a natural force streaming out of him, compelling him into the unknown, but there is also a separate divine force leading and delivering him through it.
What sets Hölderlin apart from his peers in the poem is his willingness to accept the transience of life and to freely explore emotional complexities with an unburdened, unselfish, holy detachment. In a particularly striking verse, Rilke likens Hölderlin to the moon, “[brightening and darkening] the nocturnal landscape, the holy, the terrified landscape, which [he feels] in departures.” I particularly like this passage because it artfully illustrates the inevitable passing of time, elevates Hölderlin to have an almost omniscient perspective from which to examine the human experience, while also acknowledging the uncertainty and hardships of passing through the phases of life. Despite exhaling Hölderlin as an almost divine figure, there is a loneliness and melancholy to Rilke’s descriptions as well.
I appreciate how Rilke’s depiction of the spirit in this poem values playfulness, sincerity, acceptance, and an almost naive and compulsive exploration of the unknown. He contemplates the earthly and divine natures of creativity and reflects on both the joy and isolation that often accompany it. If you are creatively inclined, this poem is worth some time and meditation.
References:
Rilke, R. M. (1989). To Hölderlin. In S. Mitchell (Ed. & Trans.), The Selected Poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke.(pp. 141) Vintage Books.