Let Everything Happen To You Beauty And Terror Poem
"Let Everything Happen to You: Beauty and Terror" is a poem by Rainer Maria Rilke, a German poet and novelist. This poem is one of the most famous works of Rilke, and it has been translated into many languages. The poem talks about the beauty and terror of life and how one should accept everything that happens to them.
Summary of the Poem
The poem begins with the lines "Let everything happen to you: beauty and terror. Just keep going. No feeling is final." These lines set the tone for the rest of the poem. The poet is telling the reader that they should accept everything that happens to them, whether it's beautiful or terrifying. They should keep going, and no feeling is final.
The second stanza talks about how the world is full of contradictions. The poet says, "Don't let yourself lose me. Nearby is the country they call life. You will know it by its seriousness." The poet is telling the reader not to lose themselves in the contradictions of the world. They should stay focused on what's important, which is life.
The third stanza talks about how life is unpredictable. The poet says, "Give me your hand." The poet is asking the reader to trust them and to take their hand. They will guide the reader through the unpredictable twists and turns of life.
The fourth stanza talks about how life can be difficult, but it's important to keep going. The poet says, "And if you go to your death, go to it as to a festival." The poet is telling the reader that even if life is difficult, they should still celebrate it.
The fifth and final stanza talks about how the poet will always be with the reader. The poet says, "I am with you, and I love you." The poet is telling the reader that they are not alone, and that they are loved.
Analysis of the Poem
"Let Everything Happen to You: Beauty and Terror" is a poem that talks about the beauty and terror of life. The poem is full of contradictions, which is a common theme in Rilke's works. Rilke believed that life was full of contradictions, and that one should accept everything that happens to them.
The poem is written in free verse, which means that it doesn't have a regular meter or rhyme scheme. This gives the poem a very conversational tone, which makes it easy to read and understand.
The poem is also full of imagery, which helps to create a vivid picture in the reader's mind. For example, the poet says, "Give me your hand." This creates an image of the poet taking the reader's hand and guiding them through life.
Conclusion
"Let Everything Happen to You: Beauty and Terror" is a beautiful poem that talks about the beauty and terror of life. The poem encourages the reader to accept everything that happens to them, whether it's beautiful or terrifying. The poem also talks about the importance of staying focused on what's important, which is life.
Rilke's use of imagery and free verse creates a very conversational tone, which makes the poem easy to read and understand. The poem is a reminder that life is full of contradictions, and that one should embrace everything that happens to them.