You see, I want a lot.
Perhaps I want everything:
The darkness that comes with every infinite fall
And the shivering blaze of every step up.
So many live on and want nothing
And are raised to the rank of prince
By the slippery ease of their light judgments
But what you love to see are faces
That do work and feel thirst…
You have not grown old,
And it is not too late to dive
Into your increasing depths where life
Calmly gives out its own secret.
– Reiner Maria Rilke
This poem has been one of my favourites since I discovered it… nearly 20 years ago. It speaks to me of the freedom that beckons when we move beyond our habitual preferences and choose the fullness of life itself. Radical acceptance! It tells me that there might be a real and earthy reward in this, more than the seemingly appealing rank of prince (that I interpret as the result of stubbornly trying to get to a comfortable place where my preferences are met).
And I like leaning in to the reassurance and promise of the last lines, pointing to what lies beyond words…
How is it for you to hear this one? I’d love to hear!
Photo by Ricardo Gomez Angel on Unsplash