RAINER MARIA RILKE

15



ALL OF YOU UNDISTURBED CITIES

HAVEN'T YOU EVER LONGED FOR THE ENEMY?

I'D LIKE TO SEE YOU BESIEGED BY HIM

FOR TEN ENDLESS & GROUND SHAKING YEARS.



UNTIL YOU WERE DESPERATE & MAD WITH SUFFERING;

FINALLY IN HUNGER YOU WOULD FEEL HIS WEIGHT.

HE LIES OUTSIDE THE WALLS LIKE A COUNTRYSIDE.

& HE KNOWS VERY WELL HOW TO ENDURE

LONGER THAN THE ONES THAT HE COMES TO VISIT.



CLIMB UP ON YOUR ROOFS & LOOK OUT:

HIS CAMP IS THERE, & HIS MORALE DOESN'T FALTER,

HIS NUMBERS DO NOT DECREASE; HE WILL NOT GROW WEAKER,

& HE SENDS NO ONE INTO THE CITY TO THREATEN

OR PROMISE, & NO ONE TO NEGOTIATE.



HE IS THE ONE WHO BREAKS DOWN ALL WALLS,

& WHEN HE WORKS, HE WORKS IN SILENCE.