Poems

Poems List

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Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The New Amadis

The New Amadis

IN my boyhood's days so drear

I was kept confined;
There I sat for many a year,
All alone I pined,


As within…

490
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The Originals

The Originals

A FELLOW says: "I own no school or college;
No master lives whom I acknowledge;
And pray don't entertain the thought
That from the de…

409
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The Muse's Mirror

The Muse's Mirror

EARLY one day, the Muse, when eagerly bent on adornment,
Follow'd a swift-running streamlet, the quietest nook by it seeking.
Quickly a…

367
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The Mountain Village

The Mountain Village

"THE mountain village was destroy'd;
But see how soon is fill'd the void!
Shingles and boards, as by magic arise,
The babe in …

460
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The Misanthrope

The Misanthrope

AT first awhile sits he,
With calm, unruffled brow;


His features then I see,
Distorted hideously,--
An owl's they …

373
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The Metamorphosis Of Plants

The Metamorphosis Of Plants

THOU art confused, my beloved, at, seeing the thousandfold union

Shown in this flowery troop, over the garden dispers'd;

449
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The Magic Net

The Magic Net

Do I see a contest yonder?
See I miracles or pastimes?
Beauteous urchins, five in number,
'Gainst five sisters fair contending,--

387
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The Maid Of The Mill's Treachery

The Maid Of The Mill's Treachery

WHENCE comes our friend so hastily,

When scarce the Eastern sky is grey?
Hath he just ceased, though cold it be, <…

415
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The Loving One Once More

The Loving One Once More

WHY do I o'er my paper once more bend?
Ask not too closely, dearest one, I pray
For, to speak truth, I've nothing now to say;

401
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The King Of Thule

The King Of Thule

IN Thule lived a monarch,

Still faithful to the grave,
To whom his dying mistress
A golden goblet gave.
Beyond all pr…

377
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The Hunter's Even-Song

The Hunter's Even-Song

THE plain with still and wand'ring feet,

And gun full-charged, I tread,
And hov'ring see thine image sweet,
Thine imag…

310
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The Happy Couple

The Happy Couple

AFTER these vernal rains

That we so warmly sought,
Dear wife, see how our plains
With blessings sweet are fraught!

443
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The Godlike

The Godlike

NOBLE be man,
Helpful and good!
For that alone
Distinguisheth him
From all the beings
Unto us known.


Hail…

490
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The Goblet

The Goblet

ONCE I held a well-carved brimming goblet,--
In my two hands tightly clasp'd I held it,
Eagerly the sweet wine sipp'd I from it,
Seeking …

385
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The Garlands

The Garlands

KLOPSTOCK would lead us away from Pindus; no longer for laurel
May we be eager--the homely acorn alone must content us;
Yet he himself his m…

454
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The Friendly Meeting

The Friendly Meeting

IN spreading mantle to my chin concealed,
I trod the rocky path, so steep and grey,
Then to the wintry plain I bent my way
Une…

306
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The Fox And The Crane

The Fox And The Crane

ONCE two persons uninvited

Came to join my dinner table;
For the nonce they lived united,
Fox and crane yclept in fable…

401
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The Freebooter

The Freebooter

No door has my house,

No house has my door;
And in and out ever
I carry my store.
No grate has my kitchen,
No kitc…

373
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The Farewell

The Farewell

LET mine eye the farewell say,

That my lips can utter ne'er;
Fain I'd be a man to-day,
Yet 'tis hard, oh, hard to bear!
Mo…

391
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The Fisherman

The Fisherman

THE waters rush'd, the waters rose,

A fisherman sat by,
While on his line in calm repose
He cast his patient eye.

<…

494
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The Epochs

The Epochs

ON Petrarch's heart, all other days before,
In flaming letters written, was impress d
GOOD FRIDAY. And on mine, be it confess'd,
Is this…

473
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The Exchange

The Exchange

THE stones in the streamlet I make my bright pillow,
And open my arms to the swift-rolling billow,


That lovingly hastens to fall…

434
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The Drops Of Nectar

The Drops Of Nectar

WHEN Minerva, to give pleasure
To Prometheus, her well-loved one,
Brought a brimming bowl of nectar
From the glorious realms of…

415
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The Dilettante And The Critic

The Dilettante And The Critic

A BOY a pigeon once possess'd,
In gay and brilliant plumage dress'd;
He loved it well, and in boyish sport
Its food t…

401