The Woman who Loves
The poem explores themes of longing, love, and transformation. The speaker expresses a deep yearning for a beloved, indicating a profound connection that transcends solitude and past experiences. The imagery of gliding towards the beloved suggests a surrender to love, while the mention of hope signifies a shift from denial to acceptance of emotional vulnerability. The speaker reflects on a time of isolation, where memories served as a quiet backdrop to their existence. This solitude is likened to a stone, emphasizing a sense of immobility and emotional stagnation. However, with the arrival of spring, a metaphor for renewal and awakening, the speaker experiences a liberation of feelings that had been dormant. This awakening brings forth a powerful command to embrace love, indicating a readiness to relinquish control and entrust their life to the beloved. The poem captures the essence of love as a transformative force, capable of awakening dormant emotions and reshaping one's identity. The speaker acknowledges the past but is focused on the present and the potential of a shared future. The interplay between memory and the present highlights the contrast between isolation and connection, ultimately celebrating the power of love to bring about personal growth and fulfillment.
By Rainer Maria Rilke · First published 1913 · Genre: Poetry, Romanticism, Lyric · 165 words
First lines
Ah yes! I long for you. To you I glide And lose myself -- for to you I belong. The hope that hitherto I have denied Imperious comes to me as from your side Serious, unfaltering and swift and strong.
Those times: the times when I was quite alone By memories wrapt that whispered to me low, My silence was the quiet of a stone Over which rippling murmuring waters flow.
But in these weeks of the awakening Spring Something within me has been freed -- something That in the past dark years unconscious lay, Which rises now within me and commands And gives my poor warm life into your hands Who know not what I was that Yesterday.
What this Textopian page supports
The Woman who Loves is listed on Textopian as a poem by Rainer Maria Rilke, dated 1913 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Rainer Maria Rilke
- Date: 1913 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romanticism, Lyric, Existentialism, Modernism
- Length: 165 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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Similar titles
- From Spring Days To Winter by Oscar Wilde
- As To A Child by Fernando Pessoa
- Tristitae by Oscar Wilde
- In Country Sleep by Dylan Thomas
- In My Craft Or Sullen Art by Dylan Thomas
- In The Deep Nights by Ranier Maria Rilke
Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing lyrical language and emotional expression typical of poetry.
- Romanticism — The themes of love, longing, and emotional depth align with the characteristics of Romantic literature.
- Lyric — The personal and introspective nature of the text reflects the qualities of lyric poetry, focusing on the speaker's emotions.
- Existentialism — The exploration of identity and existence in relation to love suggests existential themes.
Tags
Philosophical · Poetic · Romantic · Psychological · Emotional · Introspective · Stream-of-consciousness · Lyrical · Symbolic · Metaphorical · Existential · Humanistic