New Love - Louise Otto-Peters

When, with new glowing feelings and fervent longing,
Love mounts like sunrise into the heart,
There, in praise of new deeds, awaken new songs
That, in wondrous melodies, break the long silence within.

But one love do I know. One that shakes us more
And its rise is like the sun when thunderclouds are flashing,
When the meadows gleam in dew and the birds blow blissful trumpets
And lightning strikes, deprived of power, from clouds as black as ravens.

Freedom! Freedom is the sun and freedom enables loving
Be not amazed by what had earlier remained unspoken
By all the German singers, who, now, also sing their battle songs -
Freedom, the goddess of the century, bids weapon blades to clash.

If dark clouds threaten and the sun is covered,
Their flashes will fall like arrows from bows with slackened strings,
Fall deprived of power, unignited, fit to frighten only cowards,
When we others can offer comfort: look! They are only impotent blows.

Loudly implore the beloved to demand what lovers desire;
Praise her in songs of hommage; and revere her before the world;
Fight in order to possess her; die, die for your dearest-
We, who seek our darling freedom, are for this enthused.

---

Louise Otto-Peters (1819- 1895) Germany
Translated by David Paley
Source: Poems Without Frontiers