RILKING

READING RILKE’S DUINO ELEGIES ONE AT A TIME, IN STEPHEN SPENDER’S TRANSLATION. THE TITLE COMES FROM A SOMEWHAT MEAN-SPIRITED LINE FROM A POEM BY KENNETH KOCH, AND NAMES MY PLAYFUL APPROACH TO READING ONE OF THE MOST SENSITIVE, AND MOST PROFOUND, OF THE 20TH CENTURY’S POETS. THE DUINO ELEGIES HAVE BEEN A CORNERSTONE OF MY PEDAGOGY SINCE 2012: TO READ THEM CLOSELY IS AN INITIATORY AND FUNDAMENTALLY TRANSFORMATIVE PROCESS. THESE ARE POEMS THAT CAUSE LIFE AND DEATH TO FACE ONE ANOTHER-- THEY SEEMED LIKE A GOOD IDEA AT THE START OF THE COVID ERA. RILKING IS WHERE INVISIBLE COLLEGE BEGAN.