If you lacked simplicity, how then
should this fall to you that midnight skies
are ashine with? God, who stormed at men,
mild in you now comes to mortal eyes.
That he’s not more great – does this surprise?
What is greatness? Sweepingly his fate
cuts across all human measurings.
No star, even, has a path so straight.
Look, these coming now are great, these kings
dragging to your lap, as presents, things
which, they hold, are greater far than all.
Maybe they astound you, gifts like these –
look, though, how within your folded shawl
he excels already all one sees.
Amber, shipped across great distances,
golden ornaments and fragrant spice
such as makes the heavy senses swim:
these were pleasures over in a trice,
and regretted when their power grew dim.
But (as you will see): joy comes of him.
~ Rainer Maria Rilke
(from The Life of Mary, tr. J.B. Leishman)
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