Thou Anxious One! by Rainer Maria Rilke
The poem explores the tension between anxiety and the profound connection between the speaker and the subject. It begins with an urgent address to the "anxious one," highlighting the speaker's deep emotional investment and sensory awareness. The speaker's senses are depicted as vibrant and alive, suggesting a longing for recognition and connection. The imagery of spring and blooming trees symbolizes renewal and growth, indicating that the speaker's essence flourishes in the presence of the subject. The contrast between dreaming and waking states illustrates the duality of existence; in dreams, the speaker embodies the subject's aspirations, while in reality, they represent the subject's will and potential. The poem delves into themes of love, desire, and the interplay between inner turmoil and the beauty of connection. The speaker's soul is presented as a silent prayer, emphasizing vulnerability and the yearning for acknowledgment. The use of celestial imagery evokes a sense of vastness and timelessness, suggesting that the bond transcends ordinary experience. Overall, the work captures the complexity of human emotions, the interplay of anxiety and desire, and the transformative power of connection. The speaker's passionate plea reflects a deep-seated need for recognition and the hope that such acknowledgment can lead to personal and relational growth.
By Rainer Maria Rilke · First published 1923 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Romanticism, Existentialism · 145 words
First lines
Thou Anxious One! And dost thou then not hear / Against thee all my surging senses sing? / About thy face in circles drawing near / My thought floats like a fluttering white wing.
Dost thou not see, before thee stands my soul / In silence wrapt my Springtime's prayer to pray? / But when thy glance rests on me then my whole / Being quickens and blooms like trees in May.
When thou art dreaming then I am thy Dream, / But when thou art awake I am thy Will / Potent with splendour, radiant and sublime, / Expanding like far space star-lit and still / Into the distant mystic realm of Time.
What this Textopian page supports
Thou Anxious One! is listed on Textopian as a poem by Rainer Maria Rilke, dated 1923 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: 1923 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Lyric Poetry, Romanticism, Existentialism, Symbolism, Philosophical Poetry
- Length: 145 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Thou Anxious One! by Rainer Maria Rilke
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Similar titles
- Wherefore by Madison Cawein
- By Day Thou Are The Legend And The Dream by Ranier Maria Rilke
- I Dream by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Alone Thou Wanderest by Ranier Maria Rilke
- Offering by Ranier Maria Rilke
- Life by W. B. Yeats
Genres
- Lyric Poetry — The work is characterized by its emotional expression and personal reflection, typical of lyric poetry.
- Romanticism — Themes of nature, emotion, and the individual experience align with Romantic ideals.
- Existentialism — Explores themes of existence, self-awareness, and the nature of being.
- Symbolism — Utilizes symbolic imagery to convey deeper meanings and emotions.
Tags
Philosophical · Poetic · Existential · Psychological · Spiritual · Inspirational · Meditative · Self-Discovery · Inner-Life · Anxiety · Fear · Doubt