Rainer Maria Rilke’s Duino Elegies puzzles over the meaning of life through mystical poetry. Written while Rilke was in solitude, these lyrical elegies tackle existential themes of God, love, death and what it means to be human. They introduce angels, lovers, poets, prophets and puppets that wander restlessly, seeking transient meaning amidst beauty. Rilke’s rhythmically flowing verses contemplate society’s institutions, anxieties and how one finds purpose when confronted with the abyss. Full of honest self-reckoning and philosophical questioning, the Duino Elegies influenced generations of poets and intellectuals in the 20th century and cemented Rilke's fame. This collection exemplifies European modernist poetry at its profoundest, casting a sensitive eye on the radiance and griefs of mortal existence.