| Margarete Münsterberg, ed., trans. A Harvest of German Verse. 1916. | | | | Song for All, 1914 | | By Richard Dehmel (1863–1920) |
| | | HOUR of steel, thou art a blessing | |
| That at last unites us all. | |
| Friend and foe, still peace caressing, | |
| Trembled in suspicion’s thrall. | |
| Now comes the fight, | 5 |
| The honest fight! | |
| |
| Greed with blunted claw has meanly | |
| Bartered for its pomp and lust; | |
| Now we all are feeling keenly | |
| What can save our souls from dust: | 10 |
| The hour of need, | |
| Of blessed need! | |
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| Truth will blaze, through darkness smiting, | |
| Over dust and powder’s smoke. | |
| Not for life we men are fighting— | 15 |
| Fighting till the fatal stroke: | |
| For then comes death, | |
| Divinest death! | |
| |
| Led by faith, thy land defending, | |
| People, for thy spirit fight, | 20 |
| Heroes’ blood for honour spending! | |
| Sacrifice be our delight— | |
| Then victory, | |
| Hail victory! | | | | |
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