[1] der Alte: In Über "Die Sonette an Orpheus" von Rilke Jean Bollack emphasizes the fact that "das Alte" meaning things ancient the origin is not used, but rather "der Alte" possibly referring to the originator.

[2] verworrn: A syncope or the adjective "verworren" used as a nachgestellte attributive Adjectiv The "Duden Grammatik" considers such an adjective as archaic which conforms to the subject matter of this poem: "Die Nachstellung des attributiven Adjectives ist im Althochdeutschen in größerem Unfang möglich gewesen. Heute noch vorkommende Nachstellungen wirken deshalb archaisierend und beschränken sich weitgehend auf die Dichtung." [Seite 593] An example from Goethe shows the adjectives used in this way to be set off with commas: "Alles geben die Götter, die unendlichen, ihren Liebling ganz, all Freuden, die unendlichen, alle Schmerzen, die unendlichen, ganz." Syncope The loss of one or more sounds from the interior of a word, especially the loss of an unstressed vowel.

[3] all der Erbauten Wurzel: Since the adjective "erbauten" is capitalized it cannot modify "Wurzel" but rather is a genitive placed before the noun it modifies "Wurzel." Again, according to Duden, after giving exceptions where such a construction is allowed states: "Die übrigen Voranstellungen sind dichterisch: "Das Wunder ist des Glaubens liebstes Kind"(Goethe). Written in normal German "all der Erbauten Wurzel" would read as "[Die] Wurzel all der Erbauten" which is in apposition to "der Alte." The verse "all der Erbauten" along with "den sie nie shauten," "Frauen wie Lauten . . .," "nirgends ein freier" and "biegt sich zur Leier" are all Adonic lines. Apposition An explanatory noun or phrase normally placed after the noun explicated. Adoneus or Adonic Line: The last line of a "Sapphic stanza." According to the German Wictionary, the Adoneus is: "ein aus der Antike stammender Versfuß aus fünf Glieders mit der Form -UU-U.

[4] verborgener Born: A notable false cognate, since "der Born" in German is an archaic word meaning "Quelle oder Brunnen." Brockhaus notes that this is "niederdeutsch" word for "Brunnen." The phrase is used as an appositiv to "Wurzel." Apposition: An explanatory noun or phrase normally placed after the noun explicated. In German it must be in the same case and set off with commas.

[5] sie: The use of "sie" is unusual, because it is placed before its antecedents to be found in the next quattrain.

[6] Sturmhelm und Jägerhorn,/Spruch von Ergrauten, Männer im Bruderzorn, Frauen wie Lauten . . .: Although the previous quatrain ended with a period, this second quatrain is an extended appositive placed after its antecedent in the fourth verse "sie." The words used such as "Jägerhorn, Bruderzorn, Frauen wie Lauten" all point to the ancient old-germanic legends and stories. The ellipsis functions almost as an "etc." or in German "usw." Ellipsis: 2. A mark or series of marks: ( . . . ) for example, used in writing or printing to indicate an omission, especially of letters or words.

[7] drängender Zweig an Zweig: The infinitive "drängen" is used as a present participle by adding "d" and the strong adjective ending "er" before the masculine singular noun "Zweig." The "an" is used instead of "auf" because of the motion involved; otherwise, with "auf" one branch would be on top of another in a static state.

[8] nirgends ein freier . . .: The construction "ein freier" refers back to "Zweig" and is not capitalized because it refers back to a previous noun . The ellipsis is used to indicate how useless it is to try to climb to the top of the tree of life. Ellipsis: 2. A mark or series of marks: ( . . . ) for example, used in writing or printing to indicate an omission, especially of letters or words.

[9] Einer! o steig . . . of steig . . .: The "Einer" ist Orpheus, who as leader of the poets is to climb to the top of the tree of life, or to reach the level of veneration he deserves. Here the ellipsis indicates how long and strenous the climb will be. Ellipsis: 2. A mark or series of marks: ( . . . ) for example, used in writing or printing to indicate an omission, especially of letters or words.

[10] sie: This time the "sie" refers back to the branches seen as a plural, although only the singular has been used in the previous tercet.

[11]Dieser erst oben: Here the demonstrative "dieser" referring to the branch at the top is used, again referring back to "der Zweig," but here in the singular, in order to emphasize that this branch is at the top.

[12] biegt sich zur Leier: Although unclimbable the top branch turns into a lyre which is the symbol of Orpheus. This is done through poetological means emphasizing the magical nature of poetry.