by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926)
Translation by Edward Snow
Sie saß so wie die anderen beim Tee
Language: German (Deutsch)
Sie saß so wie die anderen beim Tee. Mir war zuerst, als ob sie ihre Tasse ein wenig anders als die andern fasse. Sie lächelte einmal. Es tat fast weh. Und als man schließlich sich erhob und sprach und langsam und wie es der Zufall brachte durch viele Zimmer ging (man sprach und lachte), da sah ich sie. Sie ging den andern nach, verhalten, so wie eine, welche gleich wird singen müssen und vor vielen Leuten; auf ihren hellen Augen die sich freuten war Licht von außen wie auf einem Teich. Sie folgte langsam und sie brauchte lang als wäre etwas noch nicht überstiegen; und doch: als ob, nach einem Übergang, sie nicht mehr gehen würde, sondern fliegen.
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Text Authorship:
- by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926), "Die Erblindende", appears in Neue Gedichte, first published 1907 [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 Axel Gebhardt (b. 1962), "Die Erblindende", from Fünf Lieder nach Rainer Maria Rilke, no. 2 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Kurt Rapf (1922 - 2007), "Die Erblindende", 1981 [ soprano and piano ], from Fünf Lieder nach Rilke, no. 2 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Martin Christoph Redel (b. 1947), "Die Erblindende", op. 99 no. 4 (2020) [ mezzo-soprano and piano ], from Rilke-Gesänge, no. 4, Bote & Bock [sung text not yet checked]
- by Joshua Shank (b. 1980), "Sie nicht mehr gehen würde, sondern fliegen", 2012, first performed 2012 [ ssa chorus and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in English, a translation by James Blair Leishman (1902 - 1963) , "Going Blind" ; composed by Anne Charlotte Clarke.
- Also set in Lithuanian (Lietuvių kalba), a translation by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist ; composed by Laura Dubina .
- Go to the text. [Note: the text is not in the database yet.]
- Go to the text. [Note: the text is not in the database yet.]
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Edward Snow) , "Going Blind"
Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2023-07-30
Line count: 16
Word count: 118
Going Blind
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
She sat just like the others having tea. I noticed first how she seemed to hold her cup a little differently from the others. She smiled once. It almost hurt. And when finally they all rose and spoke and slowly and as chance determined walked through many rooms (they spoke and laughed), I saw her, She walked behind the others, restrained, like one who in a moment will have to sing before many people; on her bright eyes that were rejoicing There was light from outside, as on a pond. She followed slowly and she needed time as though something still were not surmounted; and yet: as though, after a crossing-over, she would no longer walk, but fly.
Text Authorship:
- by Edward Snow , "Going Blind" [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926), "Die Erblindende", appears in Neue Gedichte, first published 1907
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2025-10-07
Line count: 16
Word count: 118