Und bin das Auge mit der Braue ...

15:12 Jan 12, 2008
German to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / Rilke
German term or phrase: Und bin das Auge mit der Braue ...
Hello everyone!
I need the English translation of a line from Rilke.

Und bin das Auge mit der Braue das über meine Schulter schaue von Ewigkeit zu Ewigkeit.

It is in the middle (I think) of The Book of Monastic Life in The Book of Hours.

I really hope that someone has an English translation of this book! Big huge thanks in advance!!
Gunilla Zedigh
Germany
Local time: 06:10


Summary of answers provided
4And I am the eye with the brow,
Marcos Guntin
3 +1God:.and I am the eye with the brow poet:with that I look over my shoulder from eternity to eternity
Vicktorya
4and am the eyebrow's eye
Lioba Multer


  

Answers


106 days   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
And I am the eye with the brow,


Explanation:
that looks (or "shall look") over my shoulder,
from eternity to eternity.

It is a beautiful passage from a most beautiful book. I hope I have done it justice.

best of luck,

Marcos


Marcos Guntin
United States
Local time: 01:10
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish, Native in EnglishEnglish
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899 days   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
God:.and I am the eye with the brow poet:with that I look over my shoulder from eternity to eternity


Explanation:
This is really hard to translate.one the first part, if you look at the context "auge ...braue" is set off by itself as God is saying it. the second part is what the poet is narrating. The context of the stanza talks about loneliness leading to God seeing the poets loneliness through his eyes.
Anita Barrows and Joanna Macy have a great translation of this...

Vicktorya
Local time: 00:10
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Lioba Multer
2394 days
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3442 days   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
and am the eyebrow's eye


Explanation:
Und Gott befiehlt mir, daß ich baue:

Denn König bin ich von der Zeit.
Dir aber bin ich nur der graue
Mitwisser deiner Einsamkeit.
Und bin das Auge mit der Braue ...

Das über meine Schulter schaue
von Ewigkeit zu Ewigkeit.


Lioba Multer
United States
Local time: 22:10
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 4
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