The Selected Poetry

Rainer Maria Rilke’s poetry radiates with a profound spiritual intensity—exploring transformation, solitude, beauty, and the ever-unfolding mystery of existence. More than fifty years after his death, his work continues to captivate readers with its lyrical power and emotional depth.

This edition, translated and selected by Stephen Mitchell, has become a modern classic in its own right. Mitchell’s translations are celebrated for their clarity, elegance, and rare ability to preserve both the meaning and music of Rilke’s original German. With poetic sensitivity and scholarly precision, he brings Rilke’s voice fully to life for the English-speaking reader.

Whether encountering Rilke for the first time or returning to his verse with fresh eyes, this collection offers a timeless invitation to reflect, feel, and awaken.

Parallel German text and English translation.