What I have already learned as a lover,

it through.while the things of the world still do not move:the doors still close softly, and the chimneys are fullof silence,the windows do not rattle yet, and the dust still lies down.I already know the storm, and I am troubled as the sea.I leap out, and fall back,and throw myself out, and am absolutely alonein…

as though frightened at the apotheosiswhich grew and all at onceset him down over these and these.And straight he stands and glad of his endurance,simply determined; as the husbandmanwho began and who knew not howfrom the garden of Eden finished-fullto find a way out intothe new earth. God was hard to persuade;and threatened him, instead…

and now leaves those to whom he most belonged,leaving and passing by them like a stranger.The loneliness of old comes over himwhich helped mature him for his deepest acts;now will he once again walk through the olive grove,and those who love him still will flee before his sight.To this last supper he has summoned them,and…

When something’s let go of, it circles; and though we arerarely the centerof the circle, it draws around us its unbroken, marvelouscurve.Translated by Stephen Mitchell

His giant heartbeat is diverted in usinto little pulses. And his giant griefis, like his giant jubilation, far toogreat for us. And so we tear ourselves awayfrom him time after time, remaining onlymouths. But unexepectedly and secretlythe giant heartbeat enters our being,so that we scream —-,and are transformed in being and in countenance.Translated by Albert…

the city that, time and again, where a shimmerof sky strikes a feeling of floodtide,takes shape without once choosing to be.Each new morning must first show her the opalsshe wore yesterday, and pull rowsof reflections out of the canaland remind her of the other times:only then does she concede and settle inlike a nymph who…