I Am Much Too Alone in This World, Yet Not Alone by Rainer Maria Rilke

I Am Much Too Alone in This World, Yet Not Alone

I am much too alone in this world, yet not alone enough

to truly consecrate the hour.

I am much too small in this world, yet not small enough

to be to you just object and thing, 

dark and smart.

I want my free will and want it accompanying 

the path which leads to action;

and want during times that beg questions, 

where something is up, 

to be among those in the know, 

or else be alone. 

I want to mirror your image to its fullest perfection, 

never be blind or too old

to uphold your weighty wavering reflection. 

I want to unfold.

Nowhere I wish to stay crooked, bent; 

for there I would be dishonest, untrue. 

I want my conscience to be 

true before you;

want to describe myself like a picture I observed 

for a long time, one close up, 

like a new word I learned and embraced, 

like the everday jug, 

like my mother’s face, 

like a ship that carried me along 

through the deadliest storm.

(Translated by Annemarie S. Kidder)