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Peter Rosegger:
Gedicht zum Neuen Jahr
Ein bißchen mehr Friede und weniger Streit,
Ein bißchen mehr Güte und weniger Neid,
Ein bißchen mehr Liebe und weniger Haß,
Ein bißchen mehr Wahrheit - das wäre doch was!
Statt so viel Unrast ein bißchen mehr Ruh',
Statt immer nur Ich ein bißchen mehr Du,
Statt Angst und Hemmung ein bißchen mehr Mut
Und Kraft zum Handeln - das wäre gut!
Kein Trübsal und Dunkel, ein bißchen mehr Licht,
Kein quälend Verlangen, ein bißchen Verzicht,
Und viel mehr Blumen, solange es geht,
Nicht erst auf Gräbern - da blüh'n sie zu spät!
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Peter Rosegger:
Poem for the New Year
A bit more of peace and a bit less debate,
a bit more of kindness and a bit less of hate,
a bit more of love and forget jealousy,
and more of the truth - now that sets us free!
Not so much of strife but of peace to pursue,
not so much of I but a bit more of You,
not fear nor despondence but more enterprise
and strength to take action - now that would be wise!
No sadness and darkness but light let us show,
no burning desire but a joyful let-go,
with many more flowers to brighten the fate,
and not just on graveyards - for then it's too late!
This poem, which has become extremely popular in German-speaking countries, has been told and retold in many versions. The Volksmund (the vox populi, the voice of the people) has changed it in quite a few places. For instance, most people - I, too - remember the last two lines with even a different rhyme/prosody, i.e. as
Und viel mehr Blumen während des Lebens,
Denn auf den Gräbern sind sie vergebens.
(And many more flowers while living,
because on the graves they are wasted.)
But, I am sure, Rosegger himself would have just smiled at the change. Or perhaps even felt honored by it. He was that kind of man. A man of the people.
As for me, I have to admit that I have no access to the original publication - Mein Lied ( 1911)? - and cannot vouch for the complete authenticity of the poem as written here. Now, if just one of my dear readers could help me out? It would immortalize his/her name on this website!
By the way, the poem may also have a title like Wünsche zum neuen Jahr (New Year's wishes) and, as mentioned on one internet site, the added remark
Ziel sei der Frieden des Herzens:
Besseres weiß ich nicht.
(Aim for peace of the heart:
I know of nothing better.)
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