Unheralded German Poets

By Daniel Zimmermann

This is a brief overview of Christian German poetry. Treated are Martin Luther, Paul Gerhardt, Paul Speratus, Nikolaus Herman, Bartholomäus Ringwaldt, Cyriacus Schneegass, Philipp Nicolai, Martin Opitz, Joachim Neander, Philipp Jakob Spener, Johann Heermann, Gerhard Tersteegen, Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock, Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf, Joseph Mohr, C. F. W. Walther, Carl Johann Hermann Fick, and many others. Included are a few of my own original poems: "Der Frühling der Liebe," "Die Liebe," "Das Verbergen," and "Der Tod des Frühlings." The last poem named is a variant of a poem by Ludwig Uhland. It describes an unseasonable snowstorm. There is also an introduction presenting a few facts concerning Medieval German poetry.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Daniel Zimmermann
• Release date: Mar 24, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215783924

Daniel Zimmermann

Daniel Zimmermann was born in Merrill, Wisconsin, and grew up in Hustisford, Wisconsin. He was graduated as valedictorian from Northwestern College, Watertown, Wisconsin. His valedictory concerned the ancient philosopher Plotinus. Special honors were third place in an Eta Sigma Phi Greek composition contest and the Doctor Ott award. He was also graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. After serving as pastor for several years, he became a free lance writer. Because of the outstanding success of his Spanish poetry in Mexico, his biography was included in Who's Who in the Midwest. He is also a former member of American Mensa. He is married to Merian, nee Ecot. The couple is residing in the Philippines. Daniel Zimmermann is the author of short stories and poetry. He also writes non-fiction, especially on literature, history, Christianity, and botany.

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Introduction

We shall present German poets whose works are not lionized by current critics. The reader can easily find a wealth of material on such luminaries as Goethe and Schiller; so it is not necessary to treat them here.

Before plunging into the body of this work, let us briefly glance at the work of German poets during the Middle Ages. During this period, German poets were active; but they often wrote in Latin. For example, Rabanus Maurus wrote a hymn entitled Veni, Creator Spiritus.  And Adam of St. Victor was a prolific writer of Latin hymns.

Nevertheless, there are a early poetic works in a Germanic language. Beowulf needs no introduction. Less familiar is an epic in Old Saxon entitled Heliand, a poetic presentation of the life of Christ. Most of this interesting epic has survived to our present day.

Another early work was a versified gospel history by Otfrid of Weissenburg. This epic was written in the Alemannian dialect.

In addition, Cædmon wrote an epic in Old English, a West Germanic language. It is a poetic presentation of the creation of the world and its subsequent redemption.

Other Medieval poetry was written in Old High German, such as Muspilli, which describes the experiences of the human soul after a person dies. It depicts angels and devils fighting for the soul of the deceased and features a fight between Elias and the Antichrist.

The later Middle Ages produced a wealth of German poetry. Worthy of note is Parzival by Wolfram von Eschenbach and Bescheidenheit by Freidank, which presents proverbs and wise sayings.

Wolfram von Eschenbach was also one of the Minnesingers, who wrote German poetry dealing with courtly love. Other Minnesingers were Tannhäuser and Walther von der Vogelweide.

The Middle Ages also produced a number of German hymns. Some were translations of Latin originals, such as, Salve caput cruentatum by Bernhard of Clairvaux. Others were original German compositions, such as the Christmas poem Uns kommt ein Schiff geladen by Tauler.

Chapter 1

Daniel Zimmermann

Mr. Zimmermann has written only a few poems in German. His chief claim to fame is his Spanish poetry, the popularity of which catapulted his biography into Who’s Who in the Midwest toward the close of the twentieth century. His English poetry also enjoyed moderate success in Spanish-speaking countries.

Mr. Zimmermann was born in Merrill, Wisconsin. He was graduated at the top of his class in the following schools: Bethany Lutheran School, Hustisford, Wisconsin; Northwestern Prep School, Watertown, Wisconsin;