Bertolt Brecht Poems

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[original]

Anmut sparet nicht noch Mьhe
Leidenschaft nicht noch Verstand
DaЯ ein gutes Deutschland blьhe
Wie ein andres gutes Land

DaЯ die Vцlker nicht erbleichen
Wie vor einer Rдuberin
Sondern ihre Hдnde reichen
Uns wie andern Vцlkern hin.

Und nicht ьber und nicht unter
Andern Vцlkern wolln wir sein
Von der See bis zu den Alpen
Von der Oder bis zum Rhein.

Und weil wir dies Land verbessern
Lieben und beschirmen wir's
Und das liebste mag's uns scheinen
So wie andern Vцlkern ihrs.

[translation]

Spare no grace or pains of yours
Spare no passion or insight
So that a good Germany flowers
Like many another good country.

So that the peoples do not turn pale
Before us as before a bird of prey—
But that they reach out their hands
To us as to other peoples.

And so that we desire to be
not above, and not below other peoples,
>From the ocean to the Alps,
from the Oder to the Rhein.

And because we are tending to this land,
May we love and protect it;
And may it seem to us the dearest,
Just as to others their own land seems.

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