Classical Era:
* Johann Wolfgang von Goethe:
* "Faust": A dramatic poem about a man who makes a pact with the devil.
* "The Erlking": A chilling ballad about a father and his son encountering a supernatural being.
* "Ganymede": A sonnet about the beauty of youth.
* Friedrich Schiller:
* "Ode to Joy": A powerful ode about the joy of humanity and brotherhood, often set to music (Beethoven's Symphony No. 9).
* "The Song of the Bell": A long poem reflecting on the stages of life and the cyclical nature of time.
* "Wilhelm Tell": A dramatic poem about Swiss resistance against tyranny.
* Heinrich Heine:
* "Lorelei": A romantic ballad about a siren who lures sailors to their deaths.
* "The Buch der Lieder" (Book of Songs): A collection of lyrical poems exploring love, nature, and social commentary.
* Theodor Fontane:
* "Effi Briest": A novel in verse about love, betrayal, and social constraints.
* "Wanderungen durch die Mark Brandenburg" (Wanderings Through the Mark Brandenburg): A collection of prose and verse celebrating the landscape of Brandenburg.
Romantic Era:
* Novalis (Georg Philipp Friedrich von Hardenberg):
* "Hymns to the Night": A series of poems exploring themes of love, death, and the mystical.
* Clemens Brentano:
* "The Fairy Tale of the Little Flower": A whimsical and romantic poem about the power of imagination.
* Joseph von Eichendorff:
* "The Moon's Song": A lyrical poem about the beauty of the night and the power of nature.
Modern Era:
* Rainer Maria Rilke:
* "Duineser Elegien" (Duino Elegies): A series of ten elegies exploring themes of existence, love, and death.
* "Sonnets to Orpheus": A collection of sonnets exploring the power of art and the relationship between the artist and the world.
* Stefan George:
* "Hymn to the Youth": A poem celebrating the beauty and power of youth.
* Bertolt Brecht:
* "The Threepenny Opera": A satirical play and musical with strong political undertones.
* Günter Grass:
* "The Tin Drum": A novel in verse, exploring themes of war, childhood, and the power of imagination.
* Ingeborg Bachmann:
* "The Darkness": A poem about the experience of grief and loss.
* Sarah Kirsch:
* "The Earth Is Blue": A collection of poems exploring themes of nature, love, and the fragility of life.
Contemporary Poets:
* Durs Grünbein: A contemporary poet known for his complex and philosophical verse.
* Jan Wagner: A poet known for his lyrical and evocative imagery.
* Judith Hermann: A poet and short story writer known for her nuanced and insightful explorations of human relationships.
This list is just a starting point. There are many other great German poets and poems out there to explore.
To get started, I recommend searching for anthologies of German poetry or looking for online resources that provide translations and introductions to German literature.