Germany "das Land der Dichter und Denker

German has always sounded intense to me, so much so that it never really struck me as a poetic language before. But according to Wikipedia, Germany is the land of Poets and Thinkers. What is German poetry like? Rhyme-y? Lots of wordplay or accent play? Syllable counts or sounds?

Does anyone have links to Germany poetry readings in audio or video?

I know the Ode To Joy is based on a poem by Schiller: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTsQk7IKyTk&fmt=18
I haven't read much German poetry, but I remember reading a quotation by Schiller that went something like "rhymes are fine, but overusing them is for faggots who speak languages that sound like shit without them, like French"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhtOpMo80oU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YiuMebyxSo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zanArAuXl34
These are links to modern perfomances of plays by Goethe and Schiller.

Those times are long over. Germany also used to be famous for its achievements in technolgy and engineering as you know. It's quite pathetic to see what has become of our country.

I can't tell you anything theoretical about german poetry, but I can give you a few famous examples:

Andreas Gryphius: Tränen des Vaterlandes
This poem was written during the time of the Thirty Years' War. Up to today it is considered as one of the most touching german poems. This youtoube-reading hits the mood pretty well, but sadly differs from the original a few times. Especially at the end it should be "dass auch der Seelen Schatz", still worth to listen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Rje9d8zflw
It begins at 2:40

Goethe: Prometheus
Schiller: Nänie
Hölderlin: Hälfte des Lebens
Goethe, Schiller and Hölderlin; those three are propably the main reason for the "land of poets".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocvjp2aQb_g
http://www.mediaculture-online.de/fileadmin/mp3s/schiller_naenie.mp3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzR0OH-2sQ4&feature=related

Heinrich Heine: Nachtgedanken
Heinrich Heine: Lore Ley
At least the first few lines of Nachtgedanken are known by everyone. Lore Ley was made into a song later and got really famous. I think Adorno once said that it got so popular that even the nazis could not get rid of it, even though they tried to ban all of Heines work. At the end they gave up, but changed the authors name into unknown. You will hear this anecdote every now and then.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vP0KlFvRtjQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sK-AZko76Q

Rilke: Der Panther
I think it's Rilkes most famous poem. I don't like everything from him, but this indeed is beautiful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsAvANPIPkw

>>4
Germany also used to be famous for its achievements in technolgy and engineering as you know.
It still is. In matters of technical innovations it pushes out, Germany is way ahead of even countries like Great Britain and France, and almost on par with the much more populous Japan.
It's quite pathetic to see what has become of our country.
Perhaps, but you're probably part of the reason why it is that way.

Everything in German sounds sort of like a lullaby. It's rhythmic and smooth. I actually like it a lot! Thanks!