Yawcob Strauss and Other Poems/Der Deutscher's Maxim

by Charles Follen Adams

DER DEUTSCHER'S MAXIM.

Dheke vas vot you call a maxim

Dot I hear der oder day,

Und I wride id in mine album,

So id don'd could got avay;

Und I dells mine leedle Yawcob

He moost mind vot he's aboudt;

"'Tis too late to lock der shtable

Vhen der horse he vas gone oudt."

Vhen I see ubon der corners

Off der shtreets, most efry night,

Der loafers und der hoodlums,

Who do nix but shvear und fight,

I says to mine Katrina,

"Let us make home bright und gay;

Ve had petter lock der shtable,

So our colts don'd got avay."

Vhen you see dhose leedle urchins,

Not mooch ofer knee-high tall,

Shump righdt indo der melon-patch,

Shust owf der garden vall,

Und vatch each leedle rashkell

Vhen he cooms hack mit hees "boodle,"

Look oudt und lock your shtable,

So your own nag don'd shkydoodle!

Vben der young man at der counter

Vants to shpecgulate in shtocks,

Und buys hees girl some timond rings,

Und piles righdt oup der rocks,

Look oudt for dot young feller;

Id vas safe enuff to say

Dot der shtable id vas empty,

Und der horse vas gone avay.

Dhen dake Time by der fetlock:

Don'd hurry droo life's courses;

Rememper vot der boet says,

"Life's but a shpan"—off horses.

Der poy he vas der comin' man;

Be careful vhile you may;

Shust keep der shtable bolted,

Und der horse don'd got avay.