| Margarete Münsterberg, ed., trans. A Harvest of German Verse. 1916. | | | | Wave Dance Song | | By Richard Dehmel (1863–1920) |
| | | I TOSSED a rose into the sea, | |
| A blooming fair rose into the green sea. | |
| Because the sun shone, sun shone bright, | |
| After it leaped the light, | |
| With hundred tremulous toes in glee. | 5 |
| When the first wave came, | |
| Then my rose, my rose began to drown. | |
| When the second wave raised it on shoulders tame, | |
| The light, the light at her feet sank down. | |
| The third snatched it up and then the light, | 10 |
| As if in defence, leaped high tremblingly. | |
| But a hundred leaping flower petals | |
| Were rocking red, red, red round me, | |
| And my boat danced about | |
| And my shadow like a spright | 15 |
| On the foam, and the green sea, the sea— | | | | |
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