'Extinguish Thou My Eyes' by Rainer Maria Rilke
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Extinguish Thou my eyes:I still can see Thee,
deprive my ears of sound:I still can hear Thee,
and without feet I still can come to Thee,
and without voice I still can call to Thee.Sever my arms from me, I still will hold Thee
with all my heart as with a single hand,
arrest my heart, my brain will keep on beating,
and Should Thy fire at last my brain consume,
the flowing of my blood will carry Thee.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Extinguish Thou My Eyes: A Profound Exploration of Love, Death and Meaning by Rainer Maria Rilke
Are you searching for a poem that can plunge you into the depths of human emotion and leave you pondering the mysteries of life and death? Look no further than "Extinguish Thou My Eyes" by the renowned poet, Rainer Maria Rilke. This hauntingly beautiful piece explores the themes of love, mortality, and the longing for meaning in a way that will leave you spellbound.
Background of the Poet
Before we delve into the nuances of the poem, let's take a moment to appreciate the brilliant mind behind it. Rainer Maria Rilke was a Bohemian-Austrian poet and novelist who lived from 1875 to 1926. He is considered one of the most significant poets of the 20th century and is known for his mystical and philosophical works.
Rilke's poetry is marked by a sense of spiritual longing and a deep awareness of the impermanence of life. He often explored themes of love, death, and the human condition, and his writing is characterized by a lyrical beauty that is both haunting and profound.
Analysis of the Poem
"Extinguish Thou My Eyes" is a prime example of Rilke's unique style and thematic concerns. Let's take a closer look at the poem and unpack its meaning.
Setting the Tone
The poem begins with an arresting image: "Extinguish thou my eyes, I still can see thee, / Deprive my ears of sound, I still can hear; / And without feet I still can come to thee, / And without voice I still can speak to thee."
Right from the start, Rilke sets a somber and contemplative tone. The speaker is seeking to escape the physical world and to transcend the limitations of the senses. This longing for something beyond the tangible is a recurring theme in Rilke's work.
Love and Loss
As the poem progresses, we come to understand that the speaker is addressing a departed lover. "Sever my arms from me, I still will hold thee / With all my heart as with a single hand; / Arrest my heart, my brain will beat as true; / And if thou slay my brain, my soul will move."
The speaker's love for this person is so intense that it transcends the physical realm. Even if all physical connections are severed, the speaker feels that they will still be able to hold onto their love. This idea of love existing beyond the physical body is a powerful one and is often explored in the works of spiritual and mystical writers.
The Longing for Meaning
The final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most enigmatic and thought-provoking:
"Light me aflame, I still will be thy torchbearer, / Flame me, I still have honey within me; / Scorch me, I still will sing thy praises; / And love me, for in loving thee I live."
Here, the speaker seems to be embracing the idea of destruction and transformation. Even if they are "light[ed]... aflame," they will still be a "torchbearer" for their loved one. This could be interpreted as a willingness to sacrifice oneself for the sake of love.
The final line of the poem is particularly striking: "And love me, for in loving thee I live." This line encapsulates the poem's overarching theme of the human longing for meaning and connection. The speaker seems to be saying that their love for this person is what gives their life purpose and significance.
Conclusion
"Extinguish Thou My Eyes" is a powerful and evocative poem that explores the themes of love, mortality, and the quest for meaning. Rilke's language is lyrical and haunting, and his ideas are thought-provoking and profound. This poem is a testament to Rilke's skill as a poet and his deep understanding of the human condition. It is a true masterpiece of modern literature and a must-read for anyone who appreciates the power of poetry to move and inspire.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry is a form of art that has the power to evoke emotions, stir the soul, and leave a lasting impression on the reader. One such poem that has stood the test of time is "Extinguish Thou My Eyes" by Rainer Maria Rilke. This classic poem is a masterpiece of romantic poetry that explores the themes of love, death, and the human condition. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its meaning, structure, and literary devices.
"Extinguish Thou My Eyes" is a short poem consisting of only four stanzas, each with two lines. The poem is written in the form of a prayer, with the speaker addressing an unknown entity, asking them to extinguish their eyes. The poem's title is also the first line of the poem, which sets the tone for the rest of the poem.
The first stanza of the poem reads, "Extinguish thou my eyes, I still can see thee, / Deprive my ears of sound, I still can hear." Here, the speaker is asking the unknown entity to take away their senses, but even if they do, the speaker will still be able to see and hear them. This line is a metaphor for the speaker's love for the entity, which is so strong that it transcends the physical senses.
In the second stanza, the speaker says, "And without feet, I still can come to thee, / And without voice, I still can call to thee." Here, the speaker is saying that even if they are unable to physically reach the entity or speak to them, their love will still find a way to reach them. This line is a testament to the power of love, which can overcome any obstacle.
The third stanza reads, "Sever my arms, I will still embrace thee / And grasp thee with my heart's last fervency." Here, the speaker is saying that even if they are unable to physically touch the entity, their love will still embrace them. This line is a metaphor for the speaker's emotional connection to the entity, which is so strong that it transcends the physical realm.
In the final stanza, the speaker says, "And dying, though thou wrench my soul in two, / Yet it shall cling to thee, unswerving, true." Here, the speaker is saying that even in death, their love for the entity will remain unswerving and true. This line is a testament to the power of love, which can transcend even death.
The poem's structure is simple, with each stanza consisting of two lines. The poem's brevity adds to its power, as each line is packed with meaning and emotion. The poem's rhyme scheme is also simple, with the first and second lines of each stanza rhyming with each other. This rhyme scheme adds to the poem's musicality and makes it easier to remember.
The poem's language is simple yet powerful, with each word carefully chosen to convey the speaker's emotions. The poem's use of metaphors and imagery adds to its depth and complexity, allowing the reader to interpret the poem in different ways. The poem's use of repetition also adds to its power, with the repeated phrase "I still can" emphasizing the speaker's determination and resilience.
One of the poem's most striking literary devices is its use of paradox. The speaker asks the unknown entity to take away their senses, but even if they do, the speaker will still be able to see and hear them. This paradox emphasizes the power of love, which can transcend the physical senses. The poem's use of paradox also adds to its complexity, allowing the reader to interpret the poem in different ways.
Another literary device used in the poem is personification. The speaker addresses an unknown entity, asking them to take away their senses. This personification adds to the poem's power, as the unknown entity becomes a symbol for the speaker's love. The poem's use of personification also adds to its depth, allowing the reader to interpret the poem in different ways.
In conclusion, "Extinguish Thou My Eyes" is a masterpiece of romantic poetry that explores the themes of love, death, and the human condition. The poem's brevity, structure, and language add to its power, allowing the reader to interpret the poem in different ways. The poem's use of metaphors, imagery, repetition, paradox, and personification adds to its depth and complexity, making it a timeless classic that will continue to evoke emotions and stir the soul for generations to come.
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