The Only Song We Have: The Creative Friendship Of Rilke And Rodin

The Only Song We Have by Lawrence Kessenich is a novel that reimagines the transformative historical encounter between the young German poet Rainer Maria Rilke and the legendary French sculptor Auguste Rodin. Set in 1902, the narrative follows Rilke as he arrives at Rodin's home in Meudon to interview the artist and compose a scholarly monograph on his life's work. Through Rilke's first-person perspective, the text explores the initial tension and subsequent fascination he feels while observing Rodin's intense, work-driven philosophy and tactile approach to beauty. The author depicts a vibrant household filled with Rodin's wife Rose, his secretary, and a sprawling studio of plaster and clay fragments that leave the poet in a state of artistic awe. Ultimately, the story captures Rilke's personal struggle with his own creative identity as he attempts to translate Rodin's physical masterpieces into meaningful verse. This fictionalized account highlights the profound mentorship and intellectual exchange that occurred between two of the most influential figures in modern art and literature.

Lwrence Kessenich is a fiction writer, poet, playwright, essayist, reviewer, and editor. His first novel, Cinnamon Girl, was published in 2016. His second novel, The Further Adventures of Daisy Miller is scheduled to be published by Pierian Springs Press in fall 2024. He has also published some short stories and won the 2010 Strokestown International Poetry Prize in Ireland. Kessenich has six books of poetry: Before Whose Glory, Age of Wonders, Hard Times Require Furious Dancing, Strange News and Pearl. His short plays have been produced in New York, Boston, and in Colorado, where he won the People's Choice Award in a national drama competition. His full-length play, Anne Frank Lives!, was performed at a festival in New York City. He has also published essays, one of which was featured on NPR's "This I Believe" and appears in the anthology This I Believe: On Love.