Rainer Maria Rilke

Fall (Herbst)

Added 10 September 2006
Revised 19 February 2012

Guntram Deichsel shared this poem by Rilke with me, which is quite appropriate for the approaching season. See also his translation of Autumn Day. Guntram is indebted to Sister Rut Gerlach who brought the "Fall" to his attention.

The poem in original German is alongside the translation.

Fall
The leaves are falling, falling as from far
Where distant with'ring gardens grace the skies,
Theyr'e falling with a gesture that denies.
And in the nights the heavy earth falls by
Into the loneliness, from a far star.
We all are falling. This hand falls, as it extends.
And take a look at others. It's in them all.
And yet there's One, holding this fall
With endless gentleness in both his hands.
translation by Guntram Deichsel

Herbst
Die Blätter fallen, fallen wie von weit,
als welkten in den Himmeln ferne Gärten;
sie fallen mit verneinender Gebärde.
Und in den Nächten fällt die schwereErde
aus allen Sternen in die Einsamkeit.
Wir alle fallen. Diese Hand da fällt.
Und sieh dir andre an: es ist in allen.
Und doch ist Einer, welcher dieses Fallen
unendlich sanft in seinen Händen hält
Maria Rainer Rilke (September 11, 1902, Paris)

Below are some alternate translations
FALL
Translation by Walter A. Aue

The leaves are falling, falling as from far,
from wilting in the heavens' distant gardens:
They're falling to deny the summer's mirth.

And in the nights the heavy Earth
falls into solitude from star to star.

We all are falling. See my hand: it bends.
And look at others: It's in all their calling.

And yet there's One, who's holding all this falling
endlessly tender in His upturned hands.

Autumn
translation by G. G. Pinter
The leaves are falling, falling as from far
Wilted in distant gardens of the sky
Unwillingly and protesting would fall.
And in the nights the heavy Earth is falling
out from the stars into lonely darkness.
We all are rushing down. This hand, too, is falling
Look at your other hand: all of them do share it.
And yet, there is One who holds this precipice
softly from hurtling down, safely, in his grasping.

Autumn
translation by Cliff Crego
The leaves are falling, falling as if from afar,
as if withered in the distant gardens of heaven;
with nay-saying gestures they fall.
And in the nights falls the heavy earth
from all the stars into loneliness.
We all are falling. This hand there falls.
And look at the others: it is in all of them.
And yet there is one, who holds all this falling
with infinite gentleness in his hands.

Harvest (Autumn)
translation by A.W. Tüting
The leaves are falling as if from afar,
as if from distant gardens withering in heaven;
with gestures saying nay they fall.
And in the nights, lost out of all,
the heavy earth falls down - a lonely star.
We all are falling. Nor this hand there stands.
And see all others: bound to this calling.
And still, there's Someone holding all this falling
with tenderness unending in his hands.

Fall
translation by Walter A. Aue
The leaves are falling, falling as from far,
from wilting in the heavens' distant gardens:
They're falling to deny the summer's mirth.
And in the nights the heavy Earth
falls into solitude from star to star.
We all are falling. See my hand: it bends.
And look at others: It's in all their calling.
And yet there's One, who's holding all this falling
endlessly tender in His upturned hands...

Autumn
translation by Robert Bly
The leaves are falling, falling as if from far up,
as if orchards were dying high in space.
Each leaf falls as if it were motioning "no."
And tonight the heavy earth is falling
away from all other stars in the loneliness.
We're all falling. This hand here is falling.
And look at the other one. It's in them all.
And yet there is Someone, whose hands
infinitely calm, holding up all this falling.