Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Rainer Maria Rilke's poem "Growing Blind" presents a nuanced and intimate look into the experience of a woman who seems to be losing her sight. From the opening scene, where the woman is observed at a tea gathering, to the closing lines where she is envisioned almost ethereally, the poem delves deeply into the themes of vulnerability, perception, and the human capacity to adapt and dream.

The woman initially appears as a figure in a common social setting: a tea party. Rilke's careful observation notes that she raises her cup "Not quite as all the others held theirs up," subtly drawing attention to her difference. Her smile is described as "pitiful," not in a demeaning way, but rather in the sense that it evokes empathy. It's as if her smile bears the weight of a silent struggle, one that is not obvious to the casual observer but becomes more evident as the poem unfolds.

As the scene transitions from the tea table to the wandering of guests "through the many rooms," the woman's demeanor takes on greater significance. She is compared to a performer who "must be calm and cool / Because she soon will sing before a crowd." This image portrays her as someone on the verge of a great undertaking or revelation. The light that falls on her eyes "without a cloud" reinforces the idea that she has come to some sort of acceptance or peace, as if she were a still pool reflecting the world around her.

However, it is her movement that is most telling. She follows "slowly, hesitating, shy," as if she is negotiating not just physical space but also an emotional or existential threshold. Rilke uses the metaphor of a "height or bridge" that "must still be passed," suggesting that her journey is both physical and metaphorical. The ending lines present the notion that once this bridge is crossed, she might "no longer walk her way, but fly." This surprising turn introduces the idea of transcendence and transformation. Even as she loses one form of interaction with the world (sight), she might gain another (the metaphorical ability to "fly").

Rilke's "Growing Blind" doesn't dwell on loss as much as it explores the resilience of the human spirit. Despite facing what many would consider a profound setback, the woman in the poem is surrounded by a light that suggests hope, understanding, or even enlightenment. Rilke captures this complex emotional landscape with acute sensitivity, allowing the reader to engage with the universal themes of struggle and transcendence through the lens of one woman's personal experience. It's a compelling examination of the profound resilience that often accompanies human vulnerability, making it a striking addition to Rilke's oeuvre.