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This poem is taken from PN Review 11, Volume 6 Number 3, January - February 1980.

Rilke's Feet Christopher Middleton

wade an wade
stand rilke
aus den beiden schuhen heraus

     Ernst Jandl

1.
Heart bowels hand head and O the breast
So many of the parts fan out
Pressing on speech
Each a shape distinct
At length delivered a message
Classified sensitive

2.
Perched in my tree as the light
Tries to unfold over Wilmersdorf

Rilke's feet a phrase
Ran amok in the mass below-

But in the grass
Not a trace left-playing

Woodland god he walked there
...


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