
A gentle autumn morning sets the scene as the narrator meets a familiar neighbor, their conversation drifting from the crisp weather to the timeless curiosities of children. The neighbor’s playful questions—about the number of stars, the language of the divine, and the very shape of God’s hands—invite a quiet, almost reverent storytelling. The narrator, aware of the delicate balance between wonder and doctrine, offers to share a simple version of the creation tale, leaving the richer embellishments to the younger listeners.
In this modest, lyrical exchange, the narrator sketches the first moments of the world: light breaking through darkness, land rising from water, and trees taking root in rapid, purposeful motion. The dialogue feels like a modest pilgrimage through familiar myths, inviting listeners to pause, reflect, and perhaps glimpse the universe through the eyes of an ordinary street‑corner philosopher. The tone remains warm, contemplative, and subtly humorous, making the ancient questions feel fresh and inviting.
Language
de
Duration
~2 hours (171K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Alexander Bauer, Jana Srna and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2011-12-24
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1875–1926
One of the great voices of modern poetry, these poems join beauty, solitude, love, and mortality in language that still feels startlingly alive. Best known for Duino Elegies, Sonnets to Orpheus, and Letters to a Young Poet, this writer continues to speak to readers looking for seriousness without sentimentality.
View all books
by Rainer Maria Rilke

by Rainer Maria Rilke

by Rainer Maria Rilke

by Rainer Maria Rilke

by Rainer Maria Rilke

by Rainer Maria Rilke

by Rainer Maria Rilke

by Rainer Maria Rilke