- Letter 1 "...ask yourself in the most silent hour of your night: must I write?"
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- Letter 2 "Irony: Don't let yourself be controlled by it, especially during uncreative moments."
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- Letter 3 "I learn it every day of my life, learn it with pain I am grateful for: patience is everything!"
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- Letter 4 "...try to love the questions themselves... books written in a very foreign language."
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- Letter 5 "...there is much beauty here, because everywhere there is much beauty."
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- Letter 6 "...there is only one solitude, and it is vast, heavy, difficult to bear..."
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- Letter 7 "...that something is difficult must be one more reason for us to do it."
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- Letter 8 "...ask yourself whether these large sadnesses haven't rather gone right through you..."
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- Letter 9 "...that you may find in yourself enough patience to endure and enough simplicity to have faith..."
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- Letter 10 "Art too is just a way of living..."
Recently I have been reminded of a poet whom the world has forgotten.
Sample of his work, as promised:
http://picture-poems.com/rilke/
http://www.allspirit.co.uk/rilke.html
http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/R/RilkeRainerM/index.htm
I think each one of these little snippets (of the letter) can be a wonderful prompt.
You're welcome to click on the letter itself and read it, but all Im using for this contest are the little bits above.
All I ask is you read something of yourself into your chosen prompt, and LIST THE NUMBER of the letter used in your author's note.
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on November 22
- Rewards: Gold: 601, Silver: 302, Bronze: 103
- Final notes: I was torn between the finalists, as each held a very personal and deeply felt meaning. thanks to all who entered, and congratulations to the winners. love,
jin
Contest Winners
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by Laura Lamarca 12 lines, 19 comments, on Nov 4 10:04 AM. In Personal, Metaphor, Deep.
Gold trophy winner
• Commented on by judge. [remove]
Silver trophy winner
Bronze trophy winner
Entries [8]
1 - 8 of 8
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In the ghettos of Auschwitz,
countless lives struggled,• Commented on by judge. -
Like vultures circling overhead without end
feeding on serenity’s carrion• Commented on by judge. -
this thing i profess to be
has grievously diverged,by Cannonsfire 37 lines, 5 comments, on Nov 4 9:06 PM• Commented on by judge. -
• Commented on by judge.
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Comments
1 - 23 of 23
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Who is the poet you say the "world has forgotten" ? Certainly NOT Rilke!!! You must be living in a rather closed "world" of your own!
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Vera Rich. I took you off ignore because I forgave the stupid things you left on my previous contests. When I mention Rilke's name-people often look at me as if I've grown two heads. I don't run around like you do, pretending to know every poet worth being remembered. If you don't like my contests or what I have to say then by all means go somewhere else. You never have anything nice to say, so save it. You're a pompous know-it-all, and you're going right back on ignore. Seeya.
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leave it. please? thanks.
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Well j i n , I must say I am actually upset that someone would make any type of remarks about this contest or any other contest for that matter. I believe I see the contents and the prompts, and well, clearly, if you do not like it click the back button and search on. No need to leave silly remarks. As for this topic, I am with Laura, I have never heard of him and from what I have glanced at, I am glad to of come acrossed it. I am always happy to see something new and to learn along the way is a bonus. Jeff always does things like this too and my god, I am thankful. I am just your basic high school graduate who never got into extra learning. So when I see it, i inhale it and love it. Sometimes dont understand it but will re read until I do. Again, dont let annoying words get to you which I see that you hadnt. Thats my girl. I shall see what I can pen for this contest but not til i have read a little more.
No promises love,
Good luck with it
Love you
Tory
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i've never heard of him before...so thanks for the education. i've bookmarked this contest and shall hopefully return with an entry later.
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I first learned about him about five years ago, but didn't really feel the connection that I do now. His work is unique and realistic and heart-wrenchingly beautiful. I will find a link and offer up some as a sample, as I think an artist with your talent and perspective can really dig in and love him as just much. I look forward to an entry here from you.
Your writing shines.
love,
jin
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Maybe you should leave a link to a page that defines good manners and politeness. It seems that your previous comment comes from somebody in great need of guidance.
I've never heard of Rilke. I thought it was a bird that flew backwards in winter to keep the snow out of its eyes.
Great prompts as usual, good luck with the contest
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I think it is a bird that flies backwards...lol
I am finding a link to his work now. Please don't let that previous comment disturb you, she's just an unhappy person who likes to pick on the ignorant
. Whatever. Would like an entry from you, dearest poet. Please come back by and have a look later...? love,
jin
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Being a person of limited resources, I didn't know of this poet. But having gone through his letters and profile, I can only feel more humbled and feel an intrinsic desire to thank you for bringing such beautiful things to the notice of the ignorant. Thanks a lot. jin dear, your convictions are more important than casual remarks. Cheers!
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I am researching now and am going to put up a link to his poetry, so you can see for yourself. Please ignore the first comment, that person has no manners. I think a writer like you would relate to him as much as I. Please come back later and have a read? love,
jin
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Rilke is a great poet for sure, thanks to him, reading the Dutch translations, I felt permanently in love with poetry. Good luck with your contest, hope you get many great entrees.
Erwin -
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I hope to see you here, darling. I wont hold you being able to read his word in Dutch against you
My son who's older than me
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....hehehe....mystery of creation huh? I've bookmarked it....
oh, I have his book now in English
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This is a great contest idea, Jin. Thank you for hosting it.
I have my own rather-worn copy of the book, myself. As for the world forgetting any poet, one must bear in mind that AP did a poll not so very long ago and over 70% of the people who responded to it had never heard of Walt Whitman, either.
I know precisely what you mean, which is why I've started posting columns about various writers which the younger generation may never hear of without our assistance, considering whatever subjects they have chosen to teach in schools instead.
There are some of us who have decided to promote worthy sources of inspiration. Don't let anyone deter you from that. As Crosby, Stills and Nash sang, "Teach your children well". We certainly can't depend on the inadequate educational system to provide them with culture and any sort of useful knowledge outside the realm of sports, computers, science and business. After all, it wasn't so very long ago that all women were deterred from taking math and science, thinking it was too far above our submissive little heads. Of course, they forgot, with all the cooking we did and do, we might need to learn measurements, at the very least. Good luck to all who enter. Be well, Poets and Scribes. 
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Thank you for the insightful comment Wanda.
I confess I've been a bookworm my whole life, and poetry has always been so important. Growing up in public schools only exposed me to the very tip of the treasures awaiting me underneath.
I devoured Poe and Dickinson, Twain and Dickens. For heaven's sake, I read Rebbecca when I was 13...?
(but I was also reading Judith Krantz's Princess Daisy, a book that taught me more about sex than anything else in life).
I move from influences like Thackeray and Keats to Parker and Millay, G.B.Shaw and Ibsen-to Spenser, Chaucer and maybe throw in some Marlowe and I'm happy.
I never know what will inspire, but when my muse goes this crazy about a particular poet, whether famous or not-I use it. I dont try and copy, I try and express.
The body of these letters deals SPECIFICALLY with this issue, so-ha...guess we can all learn from a voice who's been silent for a hundred years.
I sincerely hope more people will know him, and appreciate an artist who was happy just being an artist.
Best wishes to you in this contest, I know you will bring something marvelous.
love,
jin -
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Thank you kindly. M'am. I was reading books in the adult section in 3rd grade. I hear ya, Jin. As you know, I worked in a college library for over 12 years. They didn't even have a copy of EBB's "Sonnets from the Portuguese" until I ordered it for them. When I lived in Louisiana for 18 months, I went to the local library. Not a single volume of poetry to be had. Only one book on critical essays. I promptly turned around, went home, and boxed up every one of my college literature textbooks, including the teacher's manuals, and donated them. It is far too tragic that when budget crunches hit, the library and the arts classes are always the first to be severed from the fold. God forbid they should cut the sports teams. 
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Rilke is one of my favorite poets. I first heard of him a year or two ago when a German friend of mine recommended him to me. I remember going to the park alone with my new Rilke book, pouring over it and being blown away by the fact that he seemed to understand me, to understand all the pain inside me.
I have difficulty meeting people who aren't ridiculously shallow, and we both know that shallow people are incredibly boring. They're a dime a dozen. When I came to Rilke, I was blown away by his depth and the insensity of his feelings. I found in him an echo of myself. And I knew that, no matter how alone I felt, that someone else had also felt that way. And I felt that life was just a smidge lighter for knowing that another person had walked the same path that I am on. -
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blown away.
yes.
cant seem to stay away for very long. what touches me is his insistence. It's quiet and sincere-and yes. There is a very deep resonance here. I hope you will enter, would love to hear this put in a poem-to whatever degree you want to take it.
Love,
jin -
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I haven't been writing much lately, but I'll pull out one of his books and see if something in me shifts back towards writing.
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Oh yes. Forgot to mention that, until I saw his photo, I thought he was a woman.
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thank you.
firstly for the education.
secondly for the contest.
& thirdly...for the honour of gold.
laura.
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Thank you for this inspirational contest and for the silver, Jin. It means much, considering the depths of this given prompt, so I truly appreciate your acknowledgment and kindness. Congratulations to Laura, Annie and to all who entered with their hearts intact. Be well, Poets and Scribes.
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