Tyrs Bridge over the Elbe River in Decin (Czech Republic)

"Joy is not achieved by conquering oneself . All that remains is the awareness that one has not surrendered."

Miroslav Tyrs,

after whom this bridge is named.

Altstadtbrücke (Old Town Bridge) over the Elbe River in Meissen, Saxony (Germany)

Leise ebbt der Strom. Im Schlick

Ragen plumpe Fischerkähne

Draußen gleiten, stille Schwäne,

Mit den weißen Segeln andre.

Und die Strecke überwandre

Breiter Bahn ich mit dem Blick

Bis ans niedere Gelände

Drüben, wo sich Wiesen breiten,

Wo die bunten Kühe schreiten

Zwischen üppigem Krautgestände,

Und die groben Weidenköpfe,

Knorrig, bissig, Sauertöpfe,

...

Beginning of poem Abend an der Elbe

by Gustav Falke

Bridge over the Elbe River in Lauenburg, Schleswig-Holstein (Germany)

Wir hier an der Elbe
Sind zu Haus am selben Fluss
Fahrn hinauf, hinab
Fahren hin und her
Und er weiß, wohin er fließen muss
Ins große Meer

We here on the Elbe 

Are at home on the same river 

Drive up, down 

Drive back and forth 

And he knows where to flow 

Into the big sea

Song by Rolf Zuckowski

Kohlbrand Bridge over the Elbe River in Hamburg (Germany)

"Hamburg water can be so nice when, for once, it doesn't come from above". 

Writer Kathrin Wessling

Bridge crossing the Elbe River in Wittenberge, Brandenburg (Germany)

Wir hier an der Elbe Sind zu Haus am selben Fluss
Fahrn hinauf, hinab Fahren hin und her
Und er weiss, wohin er fliessen muss ins grosse Meer

We here on the Elbe. Are at home on the same river Drive up, down Drive back and forth 

And he knows where to flow into the big sea

Lyrics from Wir Hier an der Elbe

by Rolf Zuckowsk

Old Town Bridge over the Elbe River in Meissen, Saxony (Germany)

How brightly gleams the morning star!
What sudden radiance from afar
delights us with its shining?
God's glory breaks upon the night,
and fills our darkened souls with light,
who long for truth were pining!
Your word, Jesus,
truly feeds us, rightly leads us,
life bestowing.
Praise such mercy overflowing!

Poem by Johann Adolf Schlegel, 

poet from Meissen

Edvard Benes Bridge over the Elbe River in Usti nad Labem, former Aussig (Czech Republic)

...
Mother.
Mother, whose hand did I clasp
when with your words 
I went to Germany?
At Aussig, you always said, at
Aussig on
the Elbe,
inflight. Mother, murderers lived there.
Mother, I’ve written letters.
Mother, no answer came.
...

From the poem Wolf's-beam

Paul Celan

Kohlbrand Bridge over the Elbe River in Hamburg (Germany)

For the first time a member of the Senate has openly admitted that the Köhlbrandbrücke must be demolished in 20 years. By then, the support pillars of the emblem had to be renewed in the harbor. But that would be too expensive, urban development Senator Axel Gedaschko said......"That is, in 20 years time for the Köhlbrandbrücke has expired, and we need to have an alternative so that it can be torn down" said Gedaschko.

Die Welt, 8 January 2008

Painting of the Augustus Bridge over the Elbe River in Dresden, Saxony (Germany)

"The World Heritage Committee decided to remove Germany's Dresden Valley from UNESCO's World Heritage List due to the building of a four-lane bridge in the heart of the cultural landscape which meant that the property failed to keep its "outstanding universal value as inscribed."

UNESCO Archive, 25 June 2009

Loschwitz Bridge over the Elbe River in Dresden, Saxony (Germany)

An der Elbe Strand
Liegt mein Heimatland,
Lieb's von ganzer Seele;
Aber meine Kehle
Ist zu Haus am Rhein,
Dürstet nur nach Wein

German song