| Margarete Münsterberg, ed., trans. A Harvest of German Verse. 1916. | | | | Maiden Melancholy | | By Rainer Maria Rilke (1875–1926) |
| | | A YOUNG knight comes into my mind, | |
| As in some old, old saying. | |
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| He came. Thus comes the storm to bind | |
| You in its mantle, all entwined. | |
| He went. Thus you are left behind | 5 |
| By church-bell’s blessing—to yourself confined | |
| When you are praying— | |
| You want to scream into the calm, but find | |
| You do but gently weep, your face, inclined, | |
| Into your cool scarf laying. | 10 |
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| A young knight comes into my mind. | |
| In arms I see him straying. | |
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| His smile, it was so mild and kind: | |
| Like sheen of ivory enshrined, | |
| Or like a homesick longing blind, | 15 |
| Like Christmas snow where dark ways wind, | |
| Like turquoise stone that sea-pearls bind, | |
| Like moonlight kind | |
| On some dear volume playing. | | | | |
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