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RAINER MARIA RILKE
715

Who now dies anywhere in the world,
Without cause dies in the world,
Looks at me.

PRESENTIMENT

I’m like a silken streamer in solitude flying.
I presage the winds that are coming, and share their sighing,
While on the earth below there’s nothing stirring;
The doors close gently as yet and no fitful gusts in the chimneys;
No windows tremble as yet, and from dust the air’s free.

But I feel the coming wind, and am disturbed as the sea.
And spread myself out and roll myself to a cone,
And flutter and flap and am all alone
In the mighty storm.