Orpheus represents the poet's journey into understanding of life and death. He is Rilke's touchstone, the mythical poet who could enchant beasts, birds, and spirits with his music. Originating in reflections on the untimely death of a young girl, the poems express Rilke's delicate sense of the beauty and transience of life and the transforming possibilities of love.

Contents:
Part One

1. A tree sprang into life
2. And it was almost a girl
3. A god can do it
4. O you delicate ones
5. Raise no memorial stone
6. Does he live among us?
7. To praise is foremost!
8. Only in the realm of praising
9. Only one who has raised the lyre
10. I welcome you, ancient coffins
11. Look at the sky
12. Cheer the spirit
13. We are absorbed in blossom
14. Wait. It tastes good
15. You, my friend, you are lonely
16. Way down under the old
17. Master, do you hear?
18. Although the world quickly changes form
19. What can I dedicate to you, lord?
20. Spring has come again
21. We drive on
22. Only on a day when flight
23. Shall we reject our ancient friendship?
24. But you whom I knew like a flower
25. You, holy Orpheus, poet

Part 2

Breath, you invisible poem!
1. Just as the master's genuine brushstroke
2. Mirrors
3. O here you have the beast
4. Flower muscle of the anemone
5. Rose on your throne
6. Flowers, sisters
7. O you few playmates
8. Judges, don't brag
9. All we have gained, the machine threatens
10. Many calmly ordered rules of death
11. Will transformation
12. Be ahead of all leaving
13. Observe these flowers
14. O fountain mouth
15. Orpheus, whom we have torn apart
16. Where, in what blissful watered gardens
17. Dancer, O you translation
18. Gold lives somewhere
19. Between the stars
20. My heart, sing about gardens
21. O despite fate
22. Summon me
23. O this joy always new
24. Listen
25. How the cry of a bird
26. Does time destroyer
27. O come and go
28. Silent friend of many distances