• Eight translations of Rilke’s “Autumn Day” including a couple of the more popular ones (Bly and Snow, or maybe the Snow is only popular in my mind because it was fresh at the time I started reading poetry) and the one-time standard (Norton).
• Stephen Mitchell’s translation, the most popular and for the past thirty to forty years the standard.
• Three more translations.
• Other relatively common ones: Flemming’s and MacIntyre’s.
• And ones readily turned up by Google: Felstiner, Foreman, Crego, Kinzie, Wilkins, and the worst, from 1916, Münsterberg
A Google Search for “Ted Berrigan” and “Autumn’s Day” turns up only nine results, yet it’s better than most of the above. The Norton and Mitchell are close. And I have a soft spot for the Snow.
Autumn’s Day
after Rilke
Lord, it is time. Summer was very great.
Now cast your shadow upon sundials.
Let winds remind meadows it is late.
Mellow now the last fruits on the vine.
Allow them only two more southern days.
Hasten them to fulness, and press
The last heavy sweetness through the wine.
Who has no home can not build now.
Who dwells alone must now remain alone;
Will waken, read, write long letters, and
Will wander restlessly when leaves are blowing.
—Ted Berrigan
Sunday, September 02, 2012
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