Klaus Doring

Friday, February 8, 2008

Philippine-German Relations (XVIII)

The German spring always evoked in poets and romantic writers, emotions of youth. In Germany, it was the time when the flowers began to grow and nature began to bloom. I also remember the most expected time after weeks and months of cold and grey weather.

It was also the time, when Rizal observed the same happenings. He was so attracted by the freshness and beauty of the surroundings of the campus of the University of Heidelberg, that he described it as “it makes one want to burst out singing”. He expressed his sentiments in the verses of “A las flores de Heidelberg” - “To the flowers of Heidelberg”.

Go to my country, go, foreign flowers!

Planted by the traveler on his way.

And there beneath that sky of blue that over my beloved towers, speak for this traveler to say: What faith in his homeland he breathes to you.

(To be continued!)

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