Classic and Contemporary Poetry
SONG OF THE FATHERLAND, by ERNST MORITZ ARNDT First Line: God, who gave iron, purposed ne'er Last Line: Or freedom's death we'll die! Subject(s): Nationalism - Germany; Patriotism | ||||||||
GOD, who gave iron, purposed ne'er That man should be a slave; Therefore the sabre, sword, and spear In his right hand He gave. Therefore He gave him fiery mood, Fierce speech, and free-born breath, That he might fearlessly the feud Maintain through blood and death. Therefore will we what God did say, With honest truth, maintain And ne'er a fellow-creature slay, A tyrant's pay to gain! But he shall perish by stroke of brand Who fighteth for sin and shame, And not inherit the German land With men of the German name. O Germany! bright Fatherland! O German love so true! Thou sacred landthou beauteous land We swear to thee anew! Outlawed, each knave and coward shall The crow and raven feed; But we will to the battle all Revenge shall be our meed. Flash forth, flash forth, whatever can, To bright and flaming life! Now, all ye Germans, man for man, Forth to the holy strife! Your hands lift upward to the sky Your hearts shall upward soar And man for man let each one cry, Our slavery is o'er! Let sound, let sound, whatever can Trumpet and fife and drum! This day our sabres, man for man, To stain with blood, we come; With hangman's and with coward's blood, O glorious day of ire That to all Germans soundeth good! Day of our great desire! Let wave, let wave, whatever can Standard and banner wave! Here will we purpose, man for man, To grace a hero's grave. Advance, ye brave ranks, hardily Your banners wave on high; We'll gain us freedom's victory, Or freedom's death we'll die! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SHINE, REPUBLIC by ROBINSON JEFFERS NIGHT WITHOUT SLEEP by ROBINSON JEFFERS SEVEN LAMENTS FOR THE WAR-DEAD: 6 by YEHUDA AMICHAI A CAROL FOR THE NEW YEAR by EDWIN MARKHAM A SONG OF VICTORY by EDWIN MARKHAM BROTHERHOOD (1) by EDWIN MARKHAM THE ERRAND IMPERIOUS by EDWIN MARKHAM PATRIOTIC SONG by ERNST MORITZ ARNDT UNION SONG by ERNST MORITZ ARNDT COMING DOWN TO THE DESERT AT LORDBURG, N.M. by HAYDEN CARRUTH |
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