by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926)

Language: French (Français) 
Our translations:  ENG ENG
Eau qui se presse, qui court — eau oublieuse 
que la distraite terre boit, 
hésite un petit instant dans ma main creuse, 
    souvient-toi !

Clair et rapide amour, indifférence, 
presque absence qui court, 
entre ton trop d'arrivée et ton trop de partance 
    tremble un peu de séjour.

Composition:

    Set to music by Louis Durey (1888 - 1979), "Eau qui se presse", op. 42 no. 3 (1932), published 1966 [ medium voice and piano ], from Vergers, no. 3, Éd. Le Chant du Monde

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • ENG English (Laura (Pranada) Sylvis) , "Rushing, running water", copyright © 2004, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Laura Prichard) , "Water that presses on", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Grant Hicks [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 46