
A strikingly intimate voice opens the collection, bidding farewell to the reader while urging a heart attuned to beauty to crown the verses. The poet moves from the fleeting joy of spring’s bloom to the solemn hush of night, letting each image pulse with fresh feeling. Early lines already hint at a blend of lyrical passion and thoughtful reflection that will thread through the whole work.
The poems range widely—from tender love songs to sharp critiques of moralists, from celebratory odes to the stars to meditations on philosophy and destiny. Themes of longing, the transience of life, and the power of artistic imagination swirl together, offering listeners both comfort and provocation. The language is vivid yet accessible, inviting you to linger on each turn of phrase as if hearing a quiet conversation with a long‑lost friend.
Whether you are drawn to the gentle rustle of a spring meadow or the sober echo of an ancient myth, this anthology promises a rich tapestry of emotion and insight, perfect for a thoughtful listening experience.
Language
de
Duration
~36 minutes (35K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Delphine Lettau (for finding a huge collection of ancient German books in London.) HTML version by Al Haines.
Release date
2004-10-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1759–1805
A leading voice of German literature, he wrote plays and poems driven by freedom, moral struggle, and big human feeling. His work helped shape the spirit of European Romanticism and still feels vivid on the page and in performance.
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