Rilke's poetry has fascinated me since I discovered it. I'll probably never read it in the original German, but the amazing construction and deft imagery shines through the translation.

For this task, I chose "As Once the Winged Energy of Delight". I planned to take the pictures at the college where my father taught (and are full of fond childhood memories), as well as where I went to college. The dual states of childhood and growth in the poem seemed to echo with my own history.

As part of Misanthropology's and my tasking weekend, we walked around taking the pictures I had planned out. I had planned to do it myself, but it ended up working out for the best, as many of the pictures I needed some help taking.

As Once the Winged Energy of Delight

As once the winged energy of delight

carried you over childhood's dark abysses,

now beyond your own life build the great

arch of unimagined bridges.

Wonders happen if we can succeed

in passing through the harshest danger;

but only in a bright and purely granted

achievement can we realize the wonder.


To work with Things in the indescribable

relationship is not too hard for us;

the pattern grows more intricate and subtle,

and being swept along is not enough.


Take your practiced powers and stretch them out

until they span the chasm between two

contradictions...For the god

wants to know himself in you.

Rainer Maria Rilke

And I was done!


And: my notes for the task.