person
Ruth
The Moabite widow of the Book of Ruth who lies at the feet of Boaz on the threshing floor; in Das Stunden-Buch 75 Rilke makes the soul a Ruth who comes by night to God, the heir, and asks him to spread his wings over his handmaid.
Reading notes
- The Book of Hours §75 Ruth
From the Book of Ruth: the Moabite widow gleans in Boaz's fields by day and at night lies at his uncovered feet on the threshing floor, asking him—her kinsman and heir—to spread his wing over her (Ruth 3). Rilke makes the praying soul this Ruth and God her Boaz, the heir.