Rilke is often noted in various types of writings and I had an opportunity to purchase this inexpensive book of poems. Some of the stanzas held imagery that pulled me in but overall it was way to cryptic for a simpleton such as I. ( )

I prefer the MacIntyre translation; however, I do appreciate Peter Porter's preface here, and the illustrations by Elisabeth Frink ( )

"Wer, wenn ich schriee, hörte mich denn aus der Engel Ordnungen?"

So begins Rilke's cry to heaven, and he stays with this theme throughout the Elegies. Rilke understands more than most that the encroachment of the divine is a thing of beauty, but he also understand that beauty is indeed terrifying, if we are really paying attention. At least, the beauty of angels is terrifying.

Rilke is a poet for the head and the heart, and in about equal amounts. His writing is durable...not always a thing of beauty in and of itself, but if he cannot always portray it, he leads you to it, time and time again. ( )

Robert Boyers: "Miranda makes Rilke persuasive in English to a degree that is perfectly astonishing. Nowhere does it read like a translation."

Robin Skelton: "At last here is a translation of Rilke that retains the brilliance of the original. Throw away all your other translations of the Duino Elegies and get this one [by Gary Miranda]."

transl. Stephen Cohn