The Elbe: With love

We've had the privilege of seeing the River Elbe at different points on its journey, most recently at Bad Schandau, which is a sublime place to be.

You’ve a long way yet to run

Don’t hasten to leave this gentle world

Don’t ever forget, as industry’s dependence pulls

These green golden hills

You’ve a long way yet to flow

One day you’ll leave far Hamburg behind

The wild North Sea awaits with cold impatience

Never forget this calm emergence

Before you pass, take in the hills

The sandstone escarpments that glow as you drift

Your still peaceful waters, where herons and egrets

Choose calm vantage to study your deeps

Remember your birthing in Czechia springs

Tumbling, joyfully, joining to grow

Nursery’s over, and now you must learn

The ways of a mighty river

When rains and far off tides combine

Your waters may rise, breaching all

One day the land may hold you

Till then, pass through with care

Dresden awaits you, each town will change you

You have new streams to meet, not always so pure

Build your strength while you can

Swiss Saxony loves you, wishes you well

You have so far yet to flow

This is all proud land, some hard and needing you

Some gentle will offer repose; brief sanctuaries to remind you

Of these green golden hills