Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, RECOLLECTIONS FROM KRAHWINKEL'S DAYS OF TERROR, by HEINRICH HEINE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

RECOLLECTIONS FROM KRAHWINKEL'S DAYS OF TERROR, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: We, mayor and senate of the town
Last Line: And hold your tongues, or more's the pity.
Subject(s): Freedom; Germany; Terror; Liberty; Germans


WE, mayor and senate of the town,
The following orders now lay down
To all who love their city truly,
Enjoining them to keep them duly.

'Tis foreigners and strangers most
Who their rebellious spirit boast;
Thank God, such rogues (to put it fairly)
The children of the soil are rarely.

The Atheists likewise are concern'd;
For he by whom his God is spurn'd
Is sure at last to hold detested
All those on earth with power invested.

Christian and Jew, at close of day,
Must shut their shops without delay;
"Obey your rulers" should be ever
Both Jew and Christian's first endeavour.

No person shall be seen at night
In any street without a light;
Where three or more in groups are standing,
Let them at once begin disbanding.

Each one must bring his weapons all,
And lay them down in the guildhall;
And every kind of ammunition
Is subject to the same condition.

He who in any public spot
Ventures to reason, shall be shot;
He who by gestures dares to reason
Shall pay the penalty of treason.

Confide in the authorities,
So gracious, but withal so wise,
Who rule the fortunes of the city,
And hold your tongues, or more's the pity.





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