Do you remember still the falling stars 
that like swift horses through the heavens raced 
and suddenly leaped across the hurdles 
of our wishes--do you recall? And we 
did make so many! For there were countless numbers 
of stars: each time we looked above we were 
astounded by the swiftness of their daring play, 
while in our hearts we felt safe and secure 
watching these brilliant bodies disintegrate, 
knowing somehow we had survived their fall. 
 
 
Translated by Albert Ernest Flemming
Rainer Maria Rilke
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/falling-stars/