To my readers: as you may imagine, Israel’s current war with Hamas has resulted in my receiving any number of requests for articles and interviews, many of which I had to reject or leave unanswered. Feeling overwhelmed and needing a break, I decided to focus on the following poem, the most beautiful on the topic I could find. The picture shows the Judean Hills, not far from where I live and where I went running hundreds of times.

Enjoy.

Day in Autumn

By

Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926)

Translated by

Mary Kinzie

After the summer’s yield, Lord, it is time

to let your shadow lengthen on the sundials

and in the pastures let the rough winds fly.

As for the final fruits, coax them to roundness.

Direct on them two days of warmer light

to hale them golden toward their term, and harry

the last few drops of sweetness through the wine.

Whoever’s homeless now, will build no shelter;

who lives alone will live indefinitely so,

waking up to read a little, draft long letters,   

and, along the city’s avenues,

fitfully wander, when the wild leaves loosen.