(2003-04-29) -- German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder collected a €25 prize for winning the annual European Union poetry competition held at The Hague. The following is the text of Mr. Schroeder's poem, entitled "Footprints".
One night I had a dream...
I dreamed I was walking along the beach with a giant
and across the sky flashed scenes from my life.
For each scene I noticed two sets of footprints,
one belonged to me and the other to the giant.
When the last scene of my life flashed before me,
I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
I noticed that many times along the path of my life,
there was only one set of footprints.
I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest
and saddest times in my life.
This really bothered me and I questioned the giant about it.
"Giant, you said that once I decided to be your friend,
you would walk with me all the way,
but I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life
there is only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why in times when I needed you most,
you should leave me."
The giant replied, "When you saw only one set of footprints,
it was then that I carried you."
In other European news, the commander of U.S. forces in Europe announced yesterday that American military leaders are "reanalyzing our footprint" of troop deployments in Europe. The analysis will likely lead to a redeployment of some of the 60,000 U.S. troops now stationed in Germany.