Falling Stars

by Rainer Maria Rilke

Do you remember still the falling stars
 that like swift horses through the heavens raced
 and suddenly leaped across the hurdles
 of our wishes—do you recall? And we
 did make so many! For there were countless numbers
 of stars: each time we looked above we were
 astounded by the swiftness of their daring play,
 while in our hearts we felt safe and secure
 watching these brilliant bodies disintegrate,
 knowing somehow we had survived their fall.
 

Translated by Albert Ernest Flemming