Last Year
In 1907, Paula Modersohn-Becker returned to her husband in Worpswede. Their relationship, which had been particularly strained in 1906, had taken a turn towards improvement. Paula's long-lived wish to conceive and bear a child was fulfilled. Her daughter Mathilde (Tillie) Modersohn was born on November 2, 1907. Paula and Otto were joyous. Sadly, the joy became soon overshadowed by tragedy, as Paula Modersohn-Becker died suddenly in Worpswede on November 20 from an embolism. She was buried on the Worpswede Cemetery, her grave is preserved.
In 1908, Rainer Maria Rilke wrote the renowned poem "Requiem for a Friend" in memory of Paula. The poem was born from the impressions which Paula's life, death and friendship had left upon Rilke.
Read more about this topic: Paula Modersohn-Becker
Famous quotes containing the word year:
“The young pines springing up in the corn-fields from year to year are to me a refreshing fact.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“For Afro-Americans, it could be argued that every year they’ve spent in this country since they arrived in chains to perform forced labor has been 1984.”
—Ishmael Reed (b. 1938)