Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SPRING GREETING TO THE FATHERLAND, by MAXIMILIAN GOTTFRIED SCHENKENDORF


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SPRING GREETING TO THE FATHERLAND, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Fatherland, thy pleasures greet me
Last Line: Keep this concord, and be true!
Subject(s): Nationalism - Germany


FATHERLAND, thy pleasures greet me
After bondage, war's distress!
I must steep my soul completely
Here in all thy gorgeousness.
Where the oak-trees murmur mildly
With their crowns to heaven raised,
Mighty streams are roaring wildly—
There the German land be praised.

From the Rhinefall, all delighted,
I have walked, from Danube's spring;
Mildly, in my soul benighted
Love-stars rose, illumining;
Now I would descend, and brightly
Radiate a joyous shine
Into Neckar's valleys sprightly,
O'er the blue and silver Main.

Onward fly, my message, bringing
Freedom's greeting evermore,
Far away thou shalt be ringing
By my home on Memel's shore.
Where the German tongue is spoken,
Hearts have fought to make her free—
Fought right gladly—there unbroken
Stays our sacred Germany.

All with sunlight seems a-blazing,
All things seem adorned with green—
pastures where the herds are grazing,
Hills where ripening grapes are seen.
Such a spring time has not graced thee,
Fatherland, for thousand years;
Glory of thy fathers faced thee
Once in dreams, and now appears.

Once more weapons must be wielded;
Go, a spirit-fray begin,
Till the latest foe has yielded—
He who threatens you within.
Passions vile ye should be blighting,
Hate, suspicion, envy, greed—
Then take, after heavy fighting,
German hearts, the rest ye need.

Then shall all men be possessing
Honor, humbleness, and might,
And thus only can the blessing
Sent our monarch shine with right.
All the ancient sins must perish—
In the God-sent deluge all,
And the heritage we cherish
To a worthy heir must fall.

God has blessed the grain that's growing
And the vineyard's fruit no less;
Men with hunter's joy are glowing;
In the homes reigns happiness.
And our freedom's sure foundation,
Pious longing, fills the breast;
Love that charms in every nation
In our German land is best.

Ye that are in castles dwelling,
Or in towns that grace our soil,
Farmers that in harvests swelling
Reap the fruits of German toil—
German brothers dear, united,
Mark my words both old and new!
That our land may stay unblighted,
Keep this concord, and be true!





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