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Orchards
Translations © by Grant Hicks
Song Cycle by Giacomo Manzoni (b. 1932)
View original-language texts alone: Vergers
Le sublime est un départ. Quelque chose de nous qui au lieu de nous suivre, prend son écart et s'habitue aux cieux. La rencontre extrême de l'art n'est-ce point l'adieu le plus doux ? Et la musique : ce dernier regard que nous jetons nous-mêmes vers nous !
Text Authorship:
- by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926), no title, written 1924/5, appears in Poèmes français, in 1. Vergers, no. 33, first published 1926
See other settings of this text.
Confirmed with The Complete French Poems of Rainer Maria Rilke, Saint Paul: Greywolf Press, 1986, Page 176.
The sublime is a departure. Something in us that instead of following us, takes its own path and accustoms itself to the heavens. The extreme encounter with art: isn't it the sweetest farewell of all? And music: that last glance that we ourselves cast towards ourselves.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2025 by Grant Hicks, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926), no title, written 1924/5, appears in Poèmes français, in 1. Vergers, no. 33, first published 1926
Go to the general single-text view
Translations of titles:
"Le sublime est un départ" = "The sublime is a departure"
"Vergers XXXIII" = "Orchards XXXIII"
This text was added to the website: 2025-08-11
Line count: 8
Word count: 46
N'est-ce pas triste que nos yeux se ferment ? On voudrait avoir les yeux toujours ouverts, pour avoir vu, avant le terme, tout ce que l'on perd. N'est-il pas terrible que nos dents brillent ? Il nous aurait fallu un charme plus discret pour vivre en famille en ce temps de paix. Mais n'est-ce pas le pire que nos mains se cramponnent, dures et gourmandes ? Faut-il que des mains soient simples et bonnes pour lever l'offrande !
Text Authorship:
- by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926), no title, appears in Poèmes français, in 1. Vergers, no. 35
See other settings of this text.
Confirmed with The Complete French Poems of Rainer Maria Rilke, Saint Paul: Greywolf Press, 1986, Page 178.
Isn't it sad that our eyes close? One would like to have one's eyes always open, to have seen beforehand all that is being lost. Isn't it terrible that our teeth shine? We would have needed a discreeter charm to live as family in this time of peace. But isn't it the worst that our hands grasp, hard and greedy? Hands must be simple and good to lift up the offering!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2025 by Grant Hicks, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926), no title, appears in Poèmes français, in 1. Vergers, no. 35
Go to the general single-text view
Translations of titles:
"N'est-ce pas triste" = "Isn't it sad"
"N'est-ce pas triste que nos yeux se ferment ?" = "Isn't it sad that our eyes close?"
This text was added to the website: 2025-07-11
Line count: 12
Word count: 71
Puisque tout passe, faisons la mélodie passagère ; celle qui nous désaltère, aura de nous raison. Chantons ce qui nous quitte avec amour et art ; soyons plus vite que le rapide départ.
Text Authorship:
- by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926), no title, written c1924, appears in Poèmes français, in 1. Vergers, no. 36, first published 1926
See other settings of this text.
Since everything passes, let us make fleeting melody; the one that refreshes us will get the better of us. Let us sing that which is leaving us with love and art; let us be quicker than its swift departure.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2001 by Grant Hicks, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926), no title, written c1924, appears in Poèmes français, in 1. Vergers, no. 36, first published 1926
Go to the general single-text view
Translations of titles:
"Puisque tout passe" = "Since Everything Passes"
"Puisque tout passe, faisons" = "Since everything passes, let us make"
"Vergers XXXVI" = "Orchards XXXVI"
This text was added to the website: 2025-05-06
Line count: 8
Word count: 39