Gedichte: German Poetry

Poetry in the German language has a long and distinguished tradition. Famous poets include Germany's literary hero and author of Faust, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, who is best left to a later article on him alone. Another noted German poet and playwright, who happened to be one of Goethe's contemporaries, was Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller, beloved author of William Tell, the story of a Swiss national freedom-fighter. His poetry included the famous "Ode to Joy," which renowned German composer Ludwig van Beethoven used in his Ninth Symphony. Schiller developed a close friendship with Goethe, and towards the end of his abrupt life moved back to the area in which Goethe was living, in part to be closer to him. Friedrich Schiller died of tuberculosis at the age of 46.

German modern poetry continues to be read, as German support for the arts has been historically strong. An example of modern poetry in German language can be seen at Lyrikline.org. The site is also beginning to include poetry in several other languages, including Japanese, Hungarian, French, and English. You can choose to read about the (mainly German) poets in German, English, or French. The Lyrikline site is involved with the United Nations in order to promote the arts. Some of the best modern German poetry can be found at this site.