~ O, dass sie ewig grünen bliebe ~
 
The verse on this Jugendstil (youth style = modern art) stein (ca. early 1900's) is translated literally so the reader can see the cognates and rhyming, German construction. Les Hopper's compilation has a more poetic version: "May the beautiful time of the first young love last forever."
 
O, dass sie ewig grünen bliebe
die schöne Zeit der jungen Liebe.
O, that you (should) forever remain green,
the beautiful time of young love.
 
 
Translation: Roy De Selms/Les Hopper compilation
Photo credit: Unknown