On The Above 👆

If Gary Glitter was to walk into a room I was in, it would be an appropriate occasion to compare the beauty of my world - the product of My Self - with the ugliness of his.

The figure on the left can be thought of as two capital letter Gs for Gary Glitter. The figure on the right, can then be taken as the 🔷️ player, oppositional, counterpart. Then, we can take Hi to be short for Hitler and Ho to be short for Hotler. The distinction between Hitler and Hotler is, perhaps, best discussed in association with a controversial, 'misty', character like RMR.

RMR: The Poet etc.

Rainer Maria Rilke (1875–1926) was an Austro-German poet and novelist widely regarded as one of the most significant and lyrically intense writers in the German language. His work is celebrated for its mystical depth, exploring profound existential themes such as solitude, the nature of art, love, and the human condition. 

Timeless questions: Rainer Maria Rilke - Because it's there

To Work is to Live Without Dying - The Atlantic

Rainer Maria Rilke - Comment Magazine

Core Literary Works

Rilke’s career is often defined by several pivotal works that transformed modern poetry: 

Duino Elegies (1923): Considered his masterpiece, these ten long poems weigh beauty against existential suffering, famously opening with the line, "Who, if I cried out, would hear me among the hierarchies of angels?".

Sonnets to Orpheus (1923): A cycle of 55 sonnets written in a sudden burst of inspiration, celebrating the mythical figure of Orpheus as a symbol of the poet's power to praise and transform reality.

Letters to a Young Poet (1929, posthumous): A collection of ten letters written to an aspiring poet, offering timeless advice on solitude, patience, and the inner necessity of artistic creation.

The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge (1910): His only novel, a semi-autobiographical work that uses impressionistic techniques to depict alienation and the struggle of an artist in Paris.

New Poems (1907–1908): Notable for the "thing-poems" (Ding-Gedichte), which attempted to capture the objective essence of physical objects, such as the famous poem "The Panther". 

Life and Influences

Rilke led a restless, nomadic life, moving between major European cultural hubs like Paris, Munich, and Switzerland. 

Artistic Associations: In Paris, he served as the secretary to the sculptor Auguste Rodin, who taught him the value of "anonymous labour" and objective observation, which deeply influenced his shift toward more structured, "thing-oriented" poetry.

Key Relationships: His longtime confidante and lover, Lou Andreas-Salomé, was a central figure in his life, introducing him to Russian culture and the philosophy of Nietzsche.

Final Years: Rilke died of leukemia in Switzerland in 1926. His reputation has only grown since his death, making him a "master of verse" whose work is frequently quoted in modern popular culture. 

Recommended Reading & Resources

For those interested in exploring Rilke's life and works further, several highly-rated editions and biographies are available:

Selected Poems by Rainer Maria Rilke (Oxford World's Classics): A bilingual edition featuring accurate translations and scholarly notes on his poetic development.

Letters to a Young Poet (Penguin Classics): An essential source of inspiration for writers and artists, including modern figures like Lady Gaga.

A Ringing Glass: The Life of Rainer Maria Rilke by Donald Prater: A comprehensive, acclaimed biography that draws on extensive documentary evidence.

Life of a Poet: Rainer Maria Rilke by Ralph Freedman: Another highly praised biography that weaves together Rilke's restless life with intimate readings of his verse.

RMR Pop

Rilke is one of the best-selling poets in the United States. In popular culture, Rilke is frequently quoted or referenced in television shows, motion pictures, music and other works when these works discuss the subject of love or angels. His work is often described as mystical [and mistycal] and has been quoted and referenced by self-help authors. Rilke has been reinterpreted as A master who can lead us to a more fulfilled and less anxious life.