Levertov and Rilke in Dialogue

Denise Levertov was an avid student of the Austrian poet, Rainer Maria Rilke, and she sometimes wrote poems that were “variations” or responses to his poems. Here’s an exchange between these two literary giants, starting with Rilke, followed by Levertov’s counterpoint.

As Christmas approaches, this exchange is perfect for contemplating the mystery of the Incarnation: on one hand, the uncontainable, manifold God; and on the other hand, God somehow fully present in a single human being.

We must not portray you in king’s robes,
You drifting mist that brought forth the morning.

Once again from the old paintboxes
we take the same gold for scepter and crown
that has disguised you through the ages.

Piously we produce our images of you
till they stand around you like a thousand walls.
And when our hearts would simply open,
our fervent hands hide you.

+ Rainer Maria Rilke
The Book of Hours, I.4

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“Variation on a Theme by Rilke”
(The Book of Hours, Book I, Poem 4)

All these images (said the old monk,
closing the book) these inspired depictions,
are true. Yes — not one — Giotto’s,
Van Eyck’s, Rembrandt’s, Rouault’s,
how many others’ —
not one is a fancy, a willed fiction,
each of them shows us exactly
the manifold countenance
of the Holy One, Blessed be He.
The seraph buttress flying
to support a cathedral’s external walls,
the shadowy ribs of the vaulted sanctuary:
aren’t both — and equally —
the form of a holy place? — whose windows’ ruby
and celestial sapphire can be seen
only from inside, but then
only when light enters from without?
From the divine twilight, neither dark nor day,
blossoms the morning. Each, at work in his art,
perceived his neighbor. Thus the Infinite
plays, and in grace
gives us clues to His mystery.

+ Denise Levertov