LETTERS TO A YOUNG POET

good. His life has much hardship and sadness and lags far behind
them. If it were otherwise, he could never have found those
words.
Yours:
RAINER MARIA RILKE.

IX

FURUBORG,?? JONSERED, SWEDEN, Novenber 4th 1904.

My pEAR HERR KAPPUS,

during the time which has passed without a letter I have been
partly on the move, partly so busy that I could not write. And
even today I find writing difficult, because I have already had
to write a number of letters, so that my hand is tired. If I could
dictate, I would say much to you, but as it is you must accept
only a few words in answer to your long letter.

I think of you often, dear Herr Kappus, and with such con-
centrated wishes that it really must help you in some way.
Whether my letters could be truly a help, I often doubt. Do
not say : yes, they are. Accept them quietly and without many
thanks, and let us wait to see what will come.

It is perhaps no use now to reply to your actual words; for
what I could say about your disposition to doubt or about your
inability to bring your outer and inner life into harmony, or
about anything else that oppresses you— : it is always what I have
said before : always the wish that you might be able to find
patience enough in yourself to endure, and single-heartedness
enough to believe ; that you might win increasing trust in what
is difficult, and in your solitude among other people. And for
the rest, let life happen to you. Believe me: life is right, at all
events.

And about feelings: all feelings are pure which gather you

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