This volume, published on the occasion of Rilke's 60th death anniversary, gathers the essence of his lyrical work. In the order of their creation, it includes all the poem cycles published during the author's lifetime, as well as those poems from his rich legacy that solidified Rilke's reputation as one of the most significant and influential lyricists in the German language. From the poems of the twenty-year-old from the turn of the century to the sublime consciousness poetry culminating in the "Duino Elegies" and the "Sonnets to Orpheus," we can trace the development of an author who elevated the German poem to a new level of awareness while also unlocking a musicality and fluidity in our language that is unique in modern lyricism.