If you lacked simplicity, how then should this fall to you that midnight skies are a shine with? God, who stoked at men mild in you now comes to mortal eyes. That he’s not more great—does this surprise? What is greatness? Sweepingly his fate cuts across all human measuring. No star, even, has a path so straight. Look, these coming now are great, these kings dragging to your lap, as presents, things which, they hold, are greater far than all. Maybe they astound you, gifts like these:—look, though, how within your folded shawl he excels already all one sees. Amber, shipped across great distances, golden ornaments and fragrant spice such as makes the heavy sense swim: these were pleasures over in a trove, and regretted when their power grew dim. But (as you will see): joy comes of him
Taken from “The Birth of Christ” in Rilke: Poems (Everyman’s Library Pocket Poets Series) Alfred A. Knopf, 1996.
