Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
Letters to a Young Poet (Revised)
Letters to a Young Poet (Revised) | Rainer Maria Rilke
105 posts | 132 read | 7 reading | 79 to read
Letters written over a period of several years on the vocation of writing by a poet whose greatest work was still to come.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
review
bookwyrm7
Letters to a Young Poet | Rainer Maria Rilke
post image
Pickpick

Hard pick. This book was gifted to me by a dear friend and I thank them immensely for that. There are many valuable words of wisdom and comfort for any lost souls in search of answers. Beautiful, moving and ahead of his time in a way.

quote
bookwyrm7
Letters to a Young Poet | Rainer Maria Rilke
post image

"And this more human love (which will fulfill itself with infinite consideration and gentleness, and kindness and clarity in binding and releasing) will resemble what we are now preparing painfully and with great struggle: the love that consists in this: that two solitudes protect and border and greet each other."

quote
bookwyrm7
Letters to a Young Poet | Rainer Maria Rilke
post image

"And you should not let yourself be confused in your solitude by the fact that there is something in you that wants to move out of it. (...) everything in Nature grows and defends itself any way it can and is spontaneously itself, tries to be itself at all costs and against all opposition."

quote
bookwyrm7
Letters to a Young Poet | Rainer Maria Rilke
post image

"(...)have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and to try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms (...). Don't search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer"

quote
bookwyrm7
Letters to a Young Poet | Rainer Maria Rilke
post image

"Works of art are of an infinite solitude, and no means of approach is so useless as criticism. Only love can touch and hold them and be fair to them."

quote
bookwyrm7
Letters to a Young Poet | Rainer Maria Rilke
post image

"A work of art is good if it has arisen out of necessity. That is the only way one can judge it. (...) go into yourself and see how deep the place is from which life flows; at its source you will find the answer to the question whether you must create."

quote
moonela
Cartas a un joven poeta | Rainer Maria Rilke
post image

review
BarbaraJean
Letters to a Young Poet | Rainer Maria Rilke
post image
Pickpick

I‘ve encountered so many of Rilke‘s quotes on art and writing over the years, and I loved reading them in context here, along with so many other gems sprinkled throughout. There‘s so much wisdom in this slim volume of letters! This is my 1929 read for #192025.

Librarybelle Good choice! 4mo
38 likes1 comment
quote
BarbaraJean
Letters to a Young Poet | Rainer Maria Rilke
post image

“Why should you want to exclude any anxiety, any grief, any melancholy from your life, since you do not know what it is that these conditions are accomplishing in you?”

TheBookHippie Ack I need to read this again! 5mo
Karisa Aw, maybe the Inside Out movies are inspired by this? Pretty much the main idea of both movies! 💗 5mo
BarbaraJean @TheBookHippie It‘s my first read! So much wisdom. ☺️ @Karisa I hadn‘t thought about that connection—so perfect!! I still need to watch the second movie! 5mo
36 likes3 comments
review
Robotswithpersonality
Letters to a Young Poet | Rainer Maria Rilke
post image
Panpan

Pragmatism wrapped in less useful poeticism; esoteric phrasing and spirituality makes it more work to derive the same life advice that other books might offer more clearly. I think the particular translators for this edition may be seeing more there for a modern audience than I could perceive. Radical choice to excise some of the text of the letters and tuck it in the back with commentary. If you need to edit and explain, how much use is it?

quote
Robotswithpersonality
Letters to a Young Poet | Rainer Maria Rilke
post image

The kind of answer that would have been unsatisfactory in my teens and twenties, and makes all the sense in the world in my thirties.

7 likes1 stack add
blurb
Ellohcin
Letters to a Young Poet | Rainer Maria Rilke
post image

blurb
GinaKButler
Letters to a Young Poet | Rainer Maria Rilke
post image

Most known to me from the tagline of the What Should I Read Next podcast…my July #bookspin Up next!
#bookspinbingo

16 likes1 stack add
blurb
GinaKButler
Letters to a Young Poet | Rainer Maria Rilke
post image

My #bookspin and #doublespin for July! Thank you so much for hosting, @TheAromaofBooks 📚

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! Good luck!! 2y
20 likes1 comment
blurb
Kerrbearlib
Letters to a Young Poet | Rainer Maria Rilke
post image

Current audiobook. #audiobook #cloudlibrary

quote
DebbieGrillo
Letters to a Young Poet | Rainer Maria Rilke
post image

46 likes1 stack add
quote
DebbieGrillo
Letters to a Young Poet | Rainer Maria Rilke
post image

Have patience with everything that remains unsolved in your heart. Try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books written in a foreign language... They cannot now be given to you because you could not live them. It is a question of experiencing everything. At present you need to live the question. Perhaps you will gradually, without even noticing it, find yourself experiencing the answer, some distant day.

Sapphire This shook me (in a good way) when I first read it. 3y
sarahbellum An absolute favorite of mine and one I reach for often in hard times ❤️ 3y
Suet624 Jeepers. I have to get this book. I can't believe I haven't purchased it yet. 3y
batsy This book 💜 3y
56 likes2 stack adds4 comments
review
HeatherBookNerd
Letters to a Young Poet | Rainer Maria Rilke
post image
Pickpick

Over the span of five years, Rilke corresponded with a young poet, offering encouragement and advice. The collection of letters gives us a glimpse into Rilke‘s views of the necessity of solitude, the nature of art, and the benefits of personal growth through difficult trials. The book ends with a chronicle of what was transpiring in Rilke‘s life at the time, giving further insight. He was so kind and sympathetic towards the young man. Just lovely.

sarahbellum One of my absolute favorites! 💖 3y
LindaLappin one line that has stayed with me for years, decades rather -- “perhaps all our dragons are really princesses waiting to see us beautiful & brave.“ ... at least that's how I remember it... 3y
HeatherBookNerd @LindaLappin Yes! That‘s it! Brilliant. 3y
39 likes2 stack adds3 comments
blurb
Lindy
Letters to a Young Poet | Rainer Maria Rilke
post image

“Ah, how good it is to be among people who are reading.”

I don‘t know if this quote comes from the tagged book, but I wanted to share the lovely card that arrived today.

Cathythoughts It is a beautiful card ❤️ 3y
KathyR "There are quite a number of people in the reading-room; but one is not aware of them. They are inside the books. They move, sometimes, within the pages like sleepers turning over between two dreams. Ah, how good it is to be among people who are reading."

Rainer Maria Rilke
The Journal of My Other Self (ed. 1930)
3y
Lindy @KathyR Thanks for tracking down the full quote and it‘s source. 😘 3y
33 likes3 comments
review
Veebee
Letters to a Young Poet | Rainer Maria Rilke
post image
Pickpick

A collection of Rilke's ten letters to an aspiring poet, full of profound observations on how to nurture and nourish a creative soul.

review
Bookwomble
Letters to a Young Poet (Revised) | Stephen Mitchell, Rainer Rilke
post image
Pickpick

This is a strong contender for the best book I've read this year. Beginning as advice on the poetic impulse and the creative process from Rilke to a literary admirer, they become deeply heartfelt explorations of the human condition. Every page has something quotable, and despite its brevity (slow-reader me read it in an hour) it packs in so much. Undoubtedly a book to be re-read and reflected upon. All the stars ⭐

[With added cat silhouette 🐱]

Trashcanman One of my absolute favorites 3y
Bookwomble @Trashcanman It's so good, isn't it? I'm a bit late to the Rilke party (🎵Ain't no party like a Rilke party🎵😁), but better late than never 😊 3y
24 likes2 comments
blurb
Bookwomble
Letters to a Young Poet (Revised) | Stephen Mitchell, Rainer Rilke
post image

I don't always have to have *just* the right bookmark for what I'm reading, but I love the cover design of this edition of Rilke's "Letters to a Young Poet", and knew I had an appropriate bookmark to go with it.
Cover designer, Daniel Pelavin, has, I think, been inspired by the Vienna Secession art movement of Rilke's native Austria. I got the bookmark, with a design by artist Koloman Moser, on a visit to Vienna a few years ago. ?????

TrishB I love when that happens 😁 3y
21 likes1 comment
quote
Bookwomble
Letters to a Young Poet | Rainer Maria Rilke
post image

"There is only one thing you should do. Go into yourself...Go into yourself and see how deep the place is from which your life flows."

review
CoveredInRust
post image
Pickpick

Lovely writing and interesting ideas on the human condition and the NEED to write.

blurb
anushareflects
Letters to a Young Poet | Rainer Maria Rilke
post image

Mary Oliver‘s poem “Invitation” inspired me to go read more Rilke!!
Here‘s to new reads!

review
Angeles
Letters to a Young Poet | Rainer Maria Rilke
post image
Pickpick

Obviously, there is no point to "reviewing" letters to a young poet: it is a masterpiece. However, this new edition by liveright publishing includes the letters Rilke is answering! It is wonderful to get the other side of the conversation, and I have never seen the English translation of those letters before. So if you can afford another book, definitely buy this edition.

Buechersuechtling 🥰 Now I want to read that book. Thank you for this wonderful post. 4y
SpaceCowboyBooks Love this book 4y
Nute Agreed! A masterpiece! 4y
18 likes3 comments
blurb
Angeles
Letters to a Young Poet | Rainer Maria Rilke
post image

Here is today's book pile from visiting my lical indy. Somehow I can't do fiction this weekend

review
MemoirsForMe
Letters to a Young Poet | Rainer Maria Rilke
post image
Pickpick

In the early 1900s, Rainer Maria Rilke wrote 10 awe-inspiring letters in response to a young student at the crossroads of a writing career. When you read these letters today, Rilke‘s insightful advice on life, love and following your passion still reaches deep within to touch your creative soul. My affinity for #epistolary books lives on. And wouldn‘t Rilke make a great #LitsyLove pen pal? 😉✍🏻
#BookSpin
#16
#BookSpinBingo
@TheAromaofBooks

LeahBergen Yes. He‘s pretty dishy. 😉 4y
mirnas I suggest reading the letters he exchanged with his friend, a painter Paula Modersohn-Becker. 4y
TheAromaofBooks My husband asked me the other day if people are getting uglier or what because there seem to be a lot more good-looking people in old photographs! 😂 4y
See All 9 Comments
MemoirsForMe @LeahBergen 😆👍🏻 4y
MemoirsForMe @mirnass Thanks for letting me know. I‘d love to read more of his beautiful letters. 👍🏻 4y
MemoirsForMe @TheAromaofBooks Your husband is a hoot! I hope he added: Present company excluded, of course!” 😂 4y
TheAromaofBooks Oh, I already know that he worships at the shrine of my overwhelming beauty! 😂 4y
Nute You said it perfectly, “reaches deep within to touch your creative soul.” I like those words!😊 4y
MemoirsForMe @Nute 🤗🤗🤗 4y
56 likes1 stack add9 comments
quote
CBee
Letters to a Young Poet | Rainer Maria Rilke
post image
Trashcanman 👁👁 4y
45 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
catiewithac
Letters to a Young Poet | Rainer Maria Rilke
post image
Pickpick

I hardly know how to express what this little book made me feel...so much! Rilke was an expert letter-writer and his advice to a young poet transcends its original context. It‘s advice for being yourself, for living to your fullest potential. This book is simply a MUST READ MANY TIMES!!!! If you haven‘t picked up this little volume of genius please do so now! 😍

MemoirsForMe Finally read this! Wow! 🙌🏻 4y
Nute Yes, as you described, “this little volume of genius.” I like those words!😊 4y
69 likes2 stack adds2 comments
quote
mimai
Letters to a Young Poet | Rainer Maria Rilke

"We have no reason to be mistrustful of our world, for it is not against us. If it holds terrors, they are our terrors, if it has its abysses these abysses belong to us."

quote
mimai
Letters to a Young Poet | Rainer Maria Rilke
post image

Letters to a Young Poet has plenty of relevant points and poignant sentiments. A recommended reading to writers and creators.

quote
Tanisha_A
Letters to a Young Poet | Rainer Maria Rilke
post image

"Going into oneself and not meeting anyone for hours — that is what one must arrive at."
Except a book or two, you know! ?

#bedtimereading

JennyM The beauty of alone time! Enjoy yours, T 😘 5y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks ❤️❤️❤️ 5y
readordierachel Love this! 5y
See All 7 Comments
LeahBergen Lovely! 💕 5y
Tanisha_A @JennyM Hi loveeee, i miss you. How have you been? Kisses and hugs! 5y
JennyM @Tanisha_A I‘m good my lovely. I miss you too! Hope you and yours are all well xxx 5y
49 likes7 comments
blurb
Tanisha_A
Letters to a Young Poet | Rainer Maria Rilke
post image

"There is nothing less apt to touch a work of art than critical words: all we end up with there is more or less felicitous misunderstandings."

#readingrilke

Trashcanman I love this collection of letters 5y
Centique There are so many wonderful quotes in here. Really need to reread this 😍 5y
charl08 Beautiful photo 😍 5y
See All 8 Comments
batsy What @Trashcanman and @Centique said! I love this book a lot ❤️ 5y
batsy (and yes, love the photo!) 5y
Tanisha_A @Trashcanman @Centique @batsy I am reading from the Penguin Little Black Classic, and it makes me want to buy the complete copy. 😍 5y
Tanisha_A @charl08 @batsy Morning light! ☺️ 5y
Nute The BEST photo! 4y
64 likes2 stack adds8 comments
quote
amber_ldsmom
Letters to a Young Poet | Rainer Maria Rilke
post image

quote
AvidReader25
Letters to a Young Poet | Rainer Maria Rilke
post image

“For he who creates must be a world of his own and find everything within himself and in the natural world that he has elected to follow.”

“Take pleasure in your growth in which no one can accompany you. And be kindhearted towards those you leave behind.”

23 likes1 stack add
review
GatheringBooks
Letters to a Young Poet | Rainer Maria Rilke
post image
Pickpick

#DearDecember Day 1: Classic #EpistolaryNovel. Iphigene‘s review: “I was drunk with those words. Inspired by them. On my third reading, I realize it was not a mere phrase for a writer. It is, if anything, an advice for life. For what is a great life, but a life that pursues its passion?” Her full review: https://wp.me/pDlzr-De

Eggs Well done ❤️👏🏻📚📝👏🏻❤️ 5y
32 likes1 comment
blurb
Kayla.Adriena
Letters to a Young Poet | Rainer Maria Rilke
post image

Does anyone have a favorite etsy shop or website they like to order return address labels from? I'm interested in ones that actually send the labels already printed, not digital printing. Thank friends! 💓 #LitsyLove

Quirkybookworm Following 5y
Kaylamburson I don't have an etsy shop, but I like making my own on Shutterfly! Using your pictures or sometimes I'll pull stock photos from the internet to use! @Quirkybookworm 5y
38 likes2 comments
blurb
Eggs
Letters to a Young Poet | Rainer Maria Rilke
post image
TheSpineView Lovely! 🤩🤩🤩 5y
Eggs @TheSpineView 🥰💗🥰 5y
52 likes2 comments
review
thebluestocking
Letters to a Young Poet | Rainer Maria Rilke
post image
Mehso-so

I found this short compilation of ten letters written by Rilke to be a mixed bag. There are some pithy and insightful comments, and some that are not. I wish I had done more research and read a version with the letters from the young poet included. Still, I am glad I read this, and I‘ll probably read more Rilke.

49 likes2 comments
review
Centique
Letters to a Young Poet | Rainer Maria Rilke
post image
Pickpick

It took me a long time to read this slim book. Rilke‘s letters are heavy with quotable advice and beautiful turns of phrase. I had to keep putting it down so I could think on what I had just read. This will be a book I keep turning to and flicking through - the principles of patience and solitude and creativity are much needed in my world right now. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Lady_Tigana_20 I love this so much. The Ron Perlman/Linda Hamilton Beauty and the Beast tv show released a compilation of poetry and music used in the show. I ended up checking out every author referenced. The librarian thought I was brilliant because I was reading Rilke and Byron while a teenager. 5y
Centique @Lady_Tigana_20 wow, how cool! I remember being mesmerised by that tv show as well 😍 5y
Leftcoastzen Beautiful edition! 5y
See All 9 Comments
Centique @Leftcoastzen it‘s a Penguin Classic (and unfortunately I dripped coffee on the cover - sshhh don‘t tell @LeahBergen 😬) 5y
Nute Love your review! Love your book edition!💕 I remember taking my time with this book as well so that I could ‘soak‘ in the wisdom and the beauty. 5y
Centique @Nute beautifully said! 😍 5y
elkeOriginal It‘s been awhile since I read this - your gorgeous edition is making me think I should revisit it! 5y
Trashcanman I love this book, absolutely love it absolutely beautiful. It makes my chest feel light. 5y
Centique @Trashcanman that‘s a beautiful description. 😍 it‘s been a turning point for me, I really needed to hear the advice he gives. 5y
83 likes5 stack adds9 comments
blurb
GidgetsTreasures75
Letters to a Young Poet | Rainer Maria Rilke
post image

7-20-19: Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke Mini Book Earrings. I can make any book cover into a piece of jewelry-earrings, pendants, charm bracelets, magnets, pins, keychains and tiles. #gidgetstreasures #minibooks #minibookearrings #letterstoayoungpoet #rainermariarilke Contact me here or on my Instagram gidgetstreasures.

quote
proseedcake
Letters to a Young Poet | Rainer Maria Rilke
post image

quote
LiterRohde
Letters to a Young Poet | Rainer Maria Rilke
post image

“Have patience with everything that remains unsolved in your heart. [L]ive in the question.”

#MayMovieMagic | 20: #TomorrowNeverKnows

📷: Made with Typorama

Cinfhen Brilliant!!! Such a thoughtful response to this prompt 🙌🏻 5y
RohitSawant Love this! 💜 5y
Cathythoughts I love this too ♥️👍🏻 5y
71 likes3 comments
quote
GatheringBooks
Letters to a Young Poet | Rainer Maria Rilke
post image

#QuotsyMar19 Day 17: Sing out the pain of #Solitude as Rilke advised. Read this aloud with my then-16 yo girl and she refused to continue as she found Rilke to be a horny, pedantic letter-writer. 😂🤣😭 Hopefully, Rilke finds her again at a time when she is finally ready for him. But not now, not yet.

gradcat My heavens! Poor, dear Rilke—horny? 😱😂 6y
50 likes1 comment