He took the name, Willy Brandt, while fighting the Nazis,
Undercover with the Socialist Workers’ Party. To sea
He went at twenty by ship to Norway, neutral,
Where he excelled in the language, politics and writing. Youthful,
He worked for Labor and wrote profusely (Nazi crimes).
Germany took his citizenship, upon which he was granted Norwegian.
He’d escaped to Sweden until the war’s end. Now was his time:
Brandt became mayor of West Berlin at a moment
When the cold war with Russia reigned. When and how could it end?
He worked to defuse growing tensions by specific detente.
Non-violence was later agreed between Russia and Germany.
Initiatives repairing Europe’s relations and harmony began.
He said he was “well aware of the difficult journey” asked
Of a people struggling to bring an end to “an evil past.”
June Edvenson 