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by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926)

Die Flamingos
Language: German (Deutsch) 
In Spiegelbildern wie von Fragonard
ist doch von ihrem Weiß und ihrer Röte
nicht mehr gegeben, als dir einer böte,
wenn er von seiner Freundin sagt : sie war

noch sanft von Schlaf. Denn steigen sie ins Grüne
und stehn, auf rosa Stielen leicht gedreht,
beisammen, blühend, wie in einem Beet,
verführen sie verführender als Phryne

sich selber ; bis sie ihres Auges Bleiche
hinhalsend bergen in der eignen Weiche,
in welcher Schwarz und Fruchtrot sich versteckt.

Auf einmal kreischt ein Neid durch die Volière ;
sie aber haben sich erstaunt gestreckt
und schreiten einzeln ins Imaginäre.

Confirmed with Rainer Maria Rilke, Gedichte, Gesammelte Werke, Band III, Leipzig: Insel-verlag, 1929, p.236


Text Authorship:

  • by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926), "Die Flamingos", subtitle: "Paris, jardin des plantes", appears in Neue Gedichte [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

  • by Andreas Birnbaum , "Die Flamingos", from Dingwelten-Weltdinge, no. 11 [sung text not yet checked]
  • by Joachim Gies , "Die Flamingos" [ voice and saxophone ], from In Spiegelbildern, no. 4 [sung text not yet checked]
  • by Benedict Mason (b. 1954), "Die Flamingos", 1991 - 1992, first performed 1992 [ soprano, instrumental ensemble and electronics ], from Rilke Songs, no. 2 [sung text not yet checked]
  • by Michael Thilo , "Die Flamingos", from Rilke-Lieder, no. 6 [sung text not yet checked]
  • by Julian James Wachner (b. 1969), "Die Flamingos" [ chorus ], from Rilke Songs, no. 3, E. C. Schirmer Music Company [sung text not yet checked]

Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2023-07-21
Line count: 14
Word count: 94

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