Rainer Marie Rilke

I've turned into my dear grandfather.  I talk to everyone!  No one believes I'm shy anymore.  Lines at the store, on the train, planes....One of my more recent plane conversations was with a young guy named Saul.  He was also on his way to the UK, and we both got a little lost in the tiny Halifax airport.  We laughed at how we can negotiate five terminals at Heathrow no problem, but we got turned around in Halifax of all places.  To be fair, they don't have very good signage!  We were on the same flight to London and sat next to each other at the gate, waiting as our flight was delayed several times, until we were finally able to board at 12:30 a.m.

As we waited, Saul started reading a book of poetry by Rilke.  He shared this one with me, and I rather liked it:

She was almost a girl and forth she leaped

from this harmonious joy of song and lyre, 

shining through her springtime veils and clear, 

she made herself a bed in my ear.  And slept

in me.  Her sleep was everything.  The trees

that I had always loved so much, and these

palpable distances, the field I felt, 

and each amazement that to me befell.

She slept the world.  Ah, singing god, how have

you so perfected her, she did not crave 

to waken first?  She rose and fell asleep.

Where is her death?  Before your song is lost, 

can you not find this motif?  To what deeps

does she sink from me--where? ....A girl

almost.....