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Poetry Magnum Opus

German Verse


Tinker

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Explore the Craft of Writing Poetry
German Verse
In comparison to the romance languages, the German language sounds harsh and guttural to my English ear. It is not a language I would associate with the sound of poetry. However as usual I have much to learn. German poetry is alive, well and as beautiful as its countryside. The German contributions to the literary arena are diverse and plentiful. There is evidence of German verse back to the 9th century. Alliterative verse without end rhyme was preferred until sometime in the 13th century with the advent of written word. Only then was end rhyme incorporated. Epics, short didactic verse and romantic ballads were favored in early German literature. The following are some of the genres, techniques and stanzaic or verse forms that appear to have originated in the Germanic states.

Gefunden by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe                                                   

Ich ging im Walde
So für mich hin,
Und nichts zu suchen,
Das war mein Sinn.

Im Schatten sah ich
Ein Blümchen stehn,
Wie Sterne leuchtend
Wie Äuglein schön.

Ich wollt es brechen,
Da sagt' es fein:
Soll ich zum Welken,
Gebrochen sein?

Ich grubs mit allen
Den Würzeln aus,
Zum Garten trug ichs
Am hübschen Haus.

Und pflanzt es wieder
Am stillen Ort;
Nun zweigt es immer
Und blüht so fort.
  Found
Translation: Hyde Flippo

I was walking in the woods
Just on a whim of mine,
And seeking nothing,
That was my intention.

In the shade I saw
A little flower standing
Like stars glittering
Like beautiful little eyes.

I wanted to pick it
When it said delicately:
Should I just to wilt
Be picked?

I dug it out with all
Its little roots.
To the garden I carried it
By the lovely house.

And replanted it
In this quiet spot;
Now it keeps branching out
And blossoms ever forth.


Bar Form
Dinggedicht
Golliardic
Knittelvers
Minnesang
Nibelungen Strophe or Kurenberg Verse
Schuttelreim

 

~~ © ~~ Poems by Judi Van Gorder ~~

For permission to use this work you can write to Tinker1111@icloud.com

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