Yawcob Strauss and Other Poems/Mine Schildhood
MINE SCHILDHOOD.
- Dee schiltren dhey vas poot in ped,
- All tucked oup for der nighdt;
- I dates mine pipe der mantel off,
- Und py der fireside prighdt
- I dinks aboudt vhen I vas young—
- Off moder, who vas tead,
- Und how at nighdt—like I do Hans—
- She tucked me oup in ped.
- I mindt me off mine fader, too,
- Und how he yoost to say,
- "Poor poy, you haf a hardt oldt row
- To hoe, und leedle blay!"
- I find me oudt dot id vas drue
- Vot mine oldt fader said,
- Vhile smoodhing down mine flaxen hair
- Und tucking me in ped.
- Der oldt folks! Id vas like a dhream
- To shpeak off dhem like dot.
- Gretchen und I vas "oldt folks" now,
- Und haf two schiltren got.
- Ve lofes dhem more as neffer vas,
- Each leedle curly head,
- Und efry nighdt ve takes dhem oup
- Und tucks dhem in dheir ped.
- Budt dhen, somedimes, vhen I feels plue,
- Und all dings lonesome seem,
- I vish I vas dot poy again,
- Und dis vas all a dhream.
- I vant to kiss mine moder vonce,
- Und vhen mine brayer vas said,
- To haf mine fader dake me oup
- Und tuck me in mine ped.