Old Garden Fountain
after Rainer Maria Rilke
In the stillness of a forgotten courtyard where shadows collect like fallen leaves the old fountain stands as if awaiting the return of what has been lost its waters stilled as a held breath its stone basin worn by the touch of countless summers and winters
In its depths a few leaves float like the remnants of a forgotten prayer their edges curled and their colors faded and on the walls the ivy clings to the stone as if to a memory that refuses to let go
The wind stirs and the leaves tremble and for a moment it seems as though the fountain might stir to life but the moment passes and all is still
I took inspiration from Rainer Maria Rilke's use of formal diction and his ability to find profundity in everyday objects, as seen in his poems about roses and other natural imagery. I applied this to the subject of an old garden fountain, exploring its stillness and the memories it holds.