Yawcob Strauss and Other Poems/Der Vater-Mill


 * I Reads aboudt dot vater-mill dot runs der lifelong day,
 * Und how der vater don'd coom pack vhen vonce id flows avay;
 * Und off der mill-shit-earn dot glides on so beace- fully und shtill,
 * Budt don'd vas putting in more vork on dot same vater-mill.
 * Der boet says 'tvas beddher dot you holdt dis broverb fast—
 * "Der mill id don'd vould grind some more mit vater dot vas past."


 * Dot boem id vas peautiful to read aboudt; dot's
 * so! Budt eef dot vater wasn't past how could dot mill-
 * vheel go? Und vhy make drouble mit dot mill vhen id vas
 * been inclined To dake each obbordunidy dot's gifen id to grind?
 * Und vhen der vater cooins along in qvandidies so vast,
 * Id lets some oder mill dake oup der vater dot vas past.


 * Dhen der boet shange der subject, und he dells us vonce again,
 * "Der sickle neffer more shall reap der yellow, garnered grain."
 * Vell, vonce vas blendy, aind't id ? Id vouldn't been so nice
 * To haf dot sickle reaping oup der same grain ofer tvice!
 * Vhy, vot's der use off cutting oup der grass alreaty mown?
 * Id vas pest, mine moder dold me, to let vell enough alone.


 * "Der summer vinds refife no more leaves strewn o'er earth und main."
 * Veil, who vants to refife dhem ? Dhere vas blendy more again!
 * Der summer vinds dhey shtep righdt oup in goot time to brepare
 * Dhose blants und trees for oder leaves; dhere soon vas creen vons dhere.
 * Shust bear dis adverb on your mindts, mine frendts, und holdt id fast:
 * Der new leaves don'd vas been aroundt undil der oldt vas past.


 * Dhen neffer mindt der leaves dot's dead; der grain dot's in der bin;
 * Dhey both off dhem haf had dheir day, und shust vas gathered in.
 * Und neffer mindt der vater vhen id vonce goes droo der mill;
 * Ids vork vas done! Dhere's blendy more dot vaits ids blace to fill.
 * Let each von dake dis moral, vrora der king down to der peasant—
 * Don'd mindt der vater dot vas past, budt der vater dot vas bresent.