Photo by Diana Ewell Engel
The Blooming Season Arrives
Spring is here, the season which stirs us with light, blossoms and song. The bluebirds, wrens, and woodpeckers have returned to our backyard, delighting us with their trilling calls and scalloping flights from the globe arborvitae to the feeders, then to nests in the cedars on the hill. The birds, as they begin to seek mates and to build nests, proclaim this as the season of love.
Let’s also take time to revel in the glow of this season. Kenneth Lee, my friend who is a voice professor and a baritone virtuoso, has kindly shared a few poems with me. These poems are by the German Romantic poet, Friedrich Rückert , a 19th century writer and translator. In this post, I will be sharing Rückert’s tender love poem, “Du bist die Ruh,” translated by Richard Wigmore as “You are Rest.”
In comparing the Gerard Manley Hopkins poem, “Pied Beauty” to Rückert ’s verse, Ken writes, “These are not musical in the same way as the Hopkins poem but were set to music as songs by great composers. He was a favorite … His poems were set to music about 121 times. The rhymes and meter only work in German, not in translation. But I think the translations are beautiful.” Thanks, Ken, for sharing these spirit-winging poems!
Image by By Verlag von Dr. Hottingers Volksblatt - Volksblatt. Eine Wochenzeitschrift mit Bildern. Herausgegeben von Dr. Christlieb Gotthold Hottinger of Friedrich Rückert, Wikimedia Commons
The Original German Poem and the Schubert Musical Setting
To remain true to Rückert’s intended lines and meter, let’s begin with the original poem. Then, I encourage you to link to the YouTube recording of Ian Bostridge’s vocal interpretation of “Du bist die Ruh,” further down in this post, as pianist Julius Drake plays Franz Schubert’s musical setting for this poem. Stay with me! I will provide the English translation at the end.
Du bist die Ruh
Du bist die Ruh,/
Der Friede mild,/
Die Sehnsucht du,/
Und was sie stillt./
Ich weihe dir/
Voll Lust und Schmerz/
Zur Wohnung hier/
Mein Aug' und Herz./
Kehr' ein bei mir,/
Und schliesse du/
Still hinter dir/
Die Pforten zu./
Treib andern Schmerz/
Aus dieser Brust./
Voll sei dies Herz/
Von deiner Lust./
Dies Augenzelt/
Von deinem Glanz/
Allein erhellt,/
O füll' es ganz./
- Friedrich Rückert
Hearing “Du bist die Ruh” as a Love Song
Music is the most immediate portal to our emotional lives. Listening helps us feel Rückert’s poem.
Listen here to the Franz Schubert composition for Rückert’s poem as sung by tenor vocalist Ian Bostridge and played by pianist Julius Drake. Thank you, Ken, for providing this musical interpretation.
Song setting by Franz Schubert - 1823 Du bist die Ruh, Op. 59 No. 3, D. 776 Tenor Vocals: Ian Bostridge Producer: John Fraser Engineer: Jonathan Allen Piano: Julius Drake Composer: Franz Schubert Poet: Friedrich Rückert
Photo by Peter Mason on Unsplash
Friedrich Rückert’s poem in English
You are Rest
You are rest/
and gentle peace./
You are longing/
and what stills it./
Full of joy and grief/
I consecrate to you/
my eyes and my heart/
as a dwelling place./
Come in to me/
and softly close/
the gate/
behind you./
Drive all other grief/
from my breast./
Let my heart/
be full of your joy./
The temple of my eyes/
is lit/
by your radiance alone:/
O, fill it wholly!/
-Friedrich Rückert’s poem, “Du bist die Ruh,” as translated by Richard Wigmore
Photo by Diana Ewell Engel of camellia blooms against the great room window, announcing spring : )
How Love and Gratitude Lift Us
As you read Rückert’s poem, “Du bist die Ruh” translated as “You are Rest,” consider the place of “grief” from which the poet travels as he journeys to the “rest,” “peace” and “joy” he feels when in the radiant presence of his beloved. The spiritual quality of “You are Rest” is one of sweet fullness reached by the fulfillment of his longing.
There are several lovely images in this verse, but the one which attracts my attention due to its visual nature is “the gate” in the third stanza: “Come in to me / and softly close / the gate / behind you.” I can see this in my mind’s eye: He is continuing the lullaby peace of this poem with the idea of “softly” closing the gate. And because the gate is closing, he and his beloved are able to create a paradise, a safe haven away from the noise and darkness of the outside world.
Certainly, this poet lived through a time of great darkness and conflict. Rückert published his first volume of verse in 1814 when Germany was at war with Napoleon. This adds meaning to the poet’s grief and the need for a quiet sanctuary. Notice how he evokes a spiritual feeling with his word and image choices such as “consecrate,” “temple,” and “radiance,” similar to poets like Rumi who wrote of the Holy Spirit as the Beloved. The subject could be God.
What do you like about Friedrich Rückert’s poem? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Reading and writing verse can be therapeutic, especially during dark times in our lives. When we choose to write about someone or something that brings us joy, we choose to uplift our hearts with this creative process.
Photo by Diana Ewell Engel of two of her joys, her mother and her daughter
Lift Your Heart, Write a Love “Song”
Wherever you are today, take a few minutes to be still and to think of someone—a person or a loved pet, perhaps—or something—a plant, tree, or meaningful object that is a source of delight for you. What images come to mind as you ponder the object of your affection?
Remember, poetry is, at its heart, vivid imagery.
Try free-writing a few lines or more if you’re inspired!
Share your lines or poem in the Comments section.
What’s Coming
In the next Seized post, I will share a love poem or two from Excavating Light. Until then, listen to the birds and feel the sun on your face. Bask in the beauty of this luminous season.
Great picture of your mother and daughter.
Absolutely beautiful!