The Laurel Wreath (Translation) Poem by Erhard Hans Josef Lang

Across the shores of the five continents
the winds went carrying the messages:
The power of a mighty one does not go down,
the clan of our pioneering forefathers is still alive!
In its name again
was done a new harvest
of unforgetful fame.
This is why the nation's gratitude on this day
will bind foreheads in laurel leaves.
But too scantily this triumphant people would be thanking its elite
as supple as warriors,
if a twig of laurel leaves were to be enough for them.

No - your wreath should be one that's not fading
on the temples of your heroes' faces,
land of our birth! -

Can we make this gift? -
Yes, we can -
remembering that not in the tremor of sounding horns,
but only with each one's labour ready to serve,
we can tie the wreath.

Our own endeavour for achieving the capacity
rendered noble by an outstanding deed,
look, there this wreath is.

Let also us do as they do!
Again and again thus new names would impress
on our stone-tough chest
the reputation of a rock,
thus into times far and away
moving over a wreath not fading.

(written by Finnish poet
Uuno Kailas (1901 - 1933) for the planned wreath coronation festivity
for Finnish winners of the Olympic Games in Helsinki of 1928, transl. by
Erhard Lang, submitted on July 6,2006, the day the border station
between India & China, Nathu La, has been re-opened, after having
been closed in 1962 due the Indo-Chinese war)