revolutionary

five centuries since Luther took up quill
and gave der Deutsche Welt what had been Greek
a common diction that they're using still.
He standardized the way that Germans speak.
Like Aleghieri, but without the rhyme
his dialect because the standard one
for Northern Europe to the present time
the printing press prevailed, without a gun.
Linguistic union needs no troops, no State
and even Catholic Austria joined on
vonBismarck's project of a later date
had deep foundations he could build it on.
Before a flag gets raised, or anthem sung,
identity seeps in, with mother's tongue.