Throat Had To Be Drained

For Hannah

Der Panther

Im Jardin des Plantes, Paris

Sein Blick ist vom Vorübergehn der Stäbe
so müd geworden, dass er nichts mehr hält.
Ihm ist, als ob es tausend Rods were
and behind a thousand bars no world.

The powerful paddings steps
which the very smallest circle rotates
is like a dance of strength around a center
in a great will stands stunned.

Only sometimes the curtain of the pupils lifts, quietly
-. Then goes into a picture
down through the limbs' intensive stillness -
and hear the heart to be.



Rainer Maria Rilke, 11.06.1902, Paris