Rhyme scheme is: ABAB CDCD EFE GFG. The meter is predominately iambic. In verse 3 there is a spondee after the period. Otherwise fairly regular iambic pentameter, but the word "metamorphose" gives verse 3 too many syllables. The prefix "über" is used three times: verse 8 "übersteht;" in verse 11 "übertrifft" and in verse 14" überschreitet." Three times "ists" without an apostrophe, verses 3, 6 and 7. Also "ihrs" two times in verses 9 and 11. Note no exclamation point after the commands in verses 2 & 5. The only exclamation mark is in verse 9 for a true exclamation and not a command. (Rilke seems not to use an exclamation point for a command.) In verses 5 and 6 there is a distant polyptoton, since in verse 9 the infinitive and in verse 10 the Konjunktiv II of the verb "schwinden" is used.
Errichtet keinen Denkstein. [1] Laßt die Rose
Erect no memorial. Let the rose
nur jedes Jahr zu seinen Gunsten blühn. [2]
blossom only every year in his homage.
Denn Orpheus ists. [3] Seine Metamorphose
For it is Orpheus. His metamorphosis
in dem und dem. [4] Wir sollen uns nicht mühn [5]
within this and that. We should not trouble ourself
um andre Namen. Ein für alle Male
for other names. Once and for all times
ists [6] Orpheus, wenn er singt. Er kommt und geht.
is it Orpheus when he sings. He comes and goes.
Ists [7] nicht schon viel, wenn er die Rosenschale [8]
Is it not already much, when he often out-survives
um ein paar Tage manchmal übersteht?
the rose bowl by a few days?
O wie er schwinden muß, daß ihrs [9] begrifft!
Oh how he must dwindle away, so that you comprehend.
Und wenn ihm selbst auch bangte, daß er schwände. [10]
And even if he be anxious that he vanish
Indem [11] sein Wort das Hiersein übertrifft,
in that his word surpasses the here and now,
ist er schon dort, wohin ihrs [12] nicht begleitet.
he is alrady there, to where you cannot accompany it.
Der Leier Gitter [13] zwängt [14] ihm nicht die Hände.
The lyre's stringing does not force his hands.
Und er gehorcht, indem [15] er überschreitet.
And he complies, while he overstrides.
Errichtet keinen Denkstein. Laßt die Rose
Erect no memento. Let the roses
nur jedes Jahr zu seinen Gunsten blühn.
just blossom yearly in his respect.
Denn Orpheus ists. Seine Metamorphose
For Orpheus it is. His metamorphoses
in dem und dem. Wir sollen uns nicht mühn
within this and that. We should not reflect
um andre Namen. Ein für alle Male
on other names. Once and in every way
ists Orpheus, wenn er singt. Er kommt und geht.
it's Orpheus who sings. He must come and go.
Ists nicht schon viel, wenn er die Rosenschale
Is it not then too much, that he outstay
um ein paar Tage manchmal übersteht?
the rose bowl by a few days though?
O wie er schwinden muß, daß ihrs begrifft!
Oh how he must dwindle, that you comprehend!
Und wenn ihm selbst auch bangte, daß er schwände.
And though he be anxious that he vanish.
Indem sein Wort das Hiersein übertrifft,
In that his word reality does upend,
ist er schon dort, wohin ihrs nicht begleitet.
is he already there where one never accesses.
Der Leier Gitter zwängt ihm nicht die Hände.
The lyre strings' lattice can not his hand banish,
Und er gehorcht, indem er überschreitet.
and he obeys, even while he transgresses.
[1] Denkstein: An unusual word in German. The normal word for "monument" is "Denkmal." The corresponding word with "Stein" is "Gedenkstein" which means "memorial." In my poetical translation I used "memento" for something less than a "memorial" or a "monument."
[2] blühn: Apocope. The normal word would be "blühen." Apocope: The loss of one or more sounds from the end of a word. Changes from two syllables to one producing a masculine ending.
[3] ists: Synaloepha without using an apostrophe which is common for Rilke. This contraction is used three times in this Sonett. Synaloepha: Omission of a vowel to contract two words into one such as "don't," "it's."
[4] in dem und dem: Note the dative case indicating "within" and not "into."
[5] mühn: Similar to "blühn" in verse 2 a Apocope. Normal would be "blühen." Apocope: The loss of one or more sounds from the end of a word.
[6] ists: Second use of Synaloepha with "ists." Synaloepha: Omission of a vowel to contract two words into one such as "don't," "it's."
[7] Ists: Third and last instance of Synaloepha with "ists." Synaloepha: Omission of a vowel to contract two words into one such as "don't," "it's."
[8] Rosenschale: Since Rilke in his 1907 book of verse Neue Gedichte has "Die Rosenschale" as the last poem in the collection, it is clear from the poem he means a "bowl of roses."
[9] ihrs: First use of the Synaloepha of "ihr" and "es." Normally utilized to squeeze two syllables into one. Synaloepha: Omission of a vowel to contract two words into one such as "don't," "it's."
[10] schwände: Konjunktiv II of "schwinden." Take Imperfekt "schwand," add the subjunctive ending "e" and umlaut the "a." Note the somewhat distant Polyptoton with the use of the infinitive "schwinden" in the previous verse. Polyptoton: The repetition of the same word or root in different grammatical functions or forms.
[11] indem: There are three definitions of this conjuction. The first is according to Sprach-Brockhaus "dadurch, daß; weil, da: man klebt Briefmarken, indem man sie beseuchtet" The second is "gerada da, inzwischen: indem waren wir zur Burg gelangt." The third is "während": indem er dies sagte." I have footnoted this conjunction, becaus it is twice used in this Sonett with two different meanings. In this instance the first definition of "dadurch" seems most appropriate with the English translation of "in that."
[12] ihrs: Second use of the Synaloepha of "ihr" and "es." Grammatically, this use is somewhat suspect, since the obvious reference seems to be to Orpheus and should therefore be "ihn." The solution is that the last two preceding nouns were "Wort" and "Hiersein," both of which are neuter, the logical inference is "das Wort."
[13] Der Leier Gitter: First we have a transposed Genitive. Normal would be "das Gitter der Leier." Secondly, the translation and/or the meaning of "Gitter" creates problems. a "Gitter" is basically "lattice work" such as in a fence. Sprach-Brockhaus defines "Gitter" as "1) zaunartige Abgrenzung" or "2) Netz aus gekreuzten Linien." A lyre of the Grecian time did not have a fingerboard which would create a lattice-like image, but rather consisted of strings stretched between a lyre. It should be noted that the image which supposedly inspired Rilke to write the Sonette, a drawing by Giovanni Battista Cima da Conegliano from the Italian Renaissance, shows Orpheus playing an instrument similar to a violin with a bow. The Greican lyres were plucked with a plectra, and their construction did not allow bowing. Other string instruments of the later Baroque period had a fingerboard such as a Viola da Gamba and, of course, the guitar. It seems therefore that this "Gitter" is an anachronism and is perhaps best translated with "strings." or "string's lattice."
[14] zwängt: A somewhat unusual word related to "zwingen" which means according to Sprach-Brockhaus "es presse, drücke, quetsche; er zwängte sich durch die Menge, drängte sich."
[15] indem: Second use of this conjunction, but this time with the meaning of "während." The paradox of "obeying" which implies a constraint or holding back coupled with "überschreiten" which means literally to "overstride" or "overstep" only works if both actions are simultaneous, thus "while." The secondary meaning of "in that" is also present adding weight to the image.