Rhyme scheme is ABBA CDCD EFG EFG. The predominant meter is dactylic. The sonnet is one complete sentence. This is the first such sonnet in the Sonette an Orpheus and is reminiscent of Rilke's poem "Römische Fontäne" which in one long sentence describes the fall of water from the first to the second basin and then to the ground. In this Sonnet a series of postulations in the first two quatrains and in the first tercet lead to a conclusion in the last tercet.
O erst d a n n wenn der Flug[1]
Oh, only t h e n, when the flight
nicht mehr um seinetwillen[2]
no longer for its own sake
wird in die Himmelstillen
will climb into the heaven's stillness,
steigen,[3] sich selber[4]genug,
sufficient unto itself.
um in lichten Profilen,[5]
in order in illuminated profiles
als das Gerät, das gelang,
as the apparat that succeeded,
Liebling der Winde zu spielen,
performing as favorite of the winds,
sicher, schwenkend und schlank,--[6]
certain, swaying and slim, --
erst[7] wenn ein reines Wohin
Only then when a pure whither
wachsender Apparate[8]
of the ever-growing mechanisms
Knabenstolz überwiegt,
outweighs boyhood pride,
wird, überstürzt von Gewinn,
will, overcome by success,
jener den Fernen Genahte[9]
that one who has neared the far distance
s e i n, [10] was er einsam erfliegt[11]
b e c o m e, what he solitarily flies toward.
O erst d a n n, wenn der Flug
Only t h e n, when the flight
nicht mehr um seinetwillen
not for its own existence
wird in die Himmelstillen
into divine quiescense
steigen, sich selber genug.
climbs, with self-sufficient might,
um in lichten Profilen,
in order in bright profile,
als das Gerät, das gelang,
object of victory's whim,
Liebling der Winde zu spielen,
beloved by winds to beguile,
sicher, schwenkend und schlank,--
certain, swaying and slim, --
erst wenn ein reines Wohin
only when a pure whither
wachsender Apparate
of the maturing machine
Knabenstolz überwiegt,
ban boyish pride o'erblown,
wird, überstürzt von Gewinn,
will, rashly as conquerer,
jener den Fernen Genahte
he who has neared the unseen
s e i n, was er einsam erfliegt.
b e; c o m e what is o'erflown.
[1] O erst d a n n, wenn der Flug: Another example of Sperrdruck which comes on an unaccented syllable in this predominately dactylic sonnet. This verse is the beginning of one long, convoluted sentence which continues to the end of verse 14. The first two quatrains postulate that flight should not be for its own sake and the tercets that which it should transform itself into.
[2] seinetwillen: This polysyllabic word forms a two-syllable rhyme with the word "Himmelsstillen" in the next verse.
[3] Himmelstillen/steigen: Besides the two-syllable rhyme, there is also alliteration of the "sch" sound in "-stillen" and "steigen." Alliteration: The repetition of the sound of an initial consonant or consonant cluster in stressed syllables close enough to each other for the ear to be affected.
[4] sich selber: Alliteration of the German "s" sound. Alliteration: The repetition of the sound of an initial consonant or consonant cluster in stressed syllables close enough to each other for the ear to be affected.
[5] in lichten Profilen: Note the somewhat uncommon usage of "Profil" in the plural, most likely to be able to rhyme with "spielen."
[6] spielen,/sicher, schwenkend und schlank, --: Another partially visual alliteration whereby "spielen," "schwenkend" and "schlank" all exhibit the "sch" sound interrupted with the German "s" sould of "sicher." Note also the single usage of the Gedankenstrich to indicate the parenthetical character of, in this case, the preceding description. Alliteration: The repetition of the sound of an initial consonant or consonant cluster in stressed syllables close enough to each other for the ear to be affected. Gedankenstrich: A long horizontal bar which is longer than a hyphen and is used to separate a strong or parenthetical interruption from the rest of the sentence.
[7] erst: Another utilization of "erst" with not just the meaning of "first," but also of "only."
[8] ein reines Wohin wachsender Apparate: A genitive unpreceded adjective with the genitive strong "er" ending. The question word "wohin" has been substantiviert and preceded with "rein" plus the strong ending "es."
[9] jener den Fernen Genahte: The usage of the seldom used "jener" emphasizes the uniqueness of the person who has neared the distance. The substantiviertes past participle "Genahte" takes the nominative weak ending "e" and "jener den Fernen Genahte" forms what is called in English "an extended adjectivial clause." The dative "den Fernen" with the dative plural ending "en" indicates the goal to which the pilot aimed.
[10] s e i n: Second usage of Sperrdruck in this poem, this time on an accented syllable, to further emphasize that not only must the flight be its own aim, but the flier himself must become that towards which he flies.
[11] erfliegt: A somewhat rare example of using the prefix "er" to indicate "achievement of the aim set by the action" [Cassell's Englich & German Dictionary]. Although "erfliegen" is not to be found in most dictionaries of the time, it is a proper German word even used by Rilke's contemporary Freud, who wrote "Was man nicht erfliegen kann, muss man erhinken."