Yawcob Strauss and Other Poems/Fritz Und I




 * Mynheer, blease helb a boor oldt man
 * Vot gomes vrom Sharmany,
 * Mit Fritz, mine tog, und only freund,
 * To geep me gompany.


 * I haf no geld to puy mine pread,
 * No blace to lay me down;
 * For ve vas vanderers, Fritz und I,
 * Und sdrangers in der town.


 * Some beoples gife us dings to eadt,
 * Und some dey kicks us oudt,
 * Und say, "You don'd got peesnis here
 * To sdroll der schtreets aboudt!"


 * Vot's dot you say ? — you puy mine tog
 * To gife me pread to eadt!
 * I vas so boor as nefer vas,
 * But I vas no "tead peat."


 * Vot, sell mine tog, mine leedle tog,
 * Dot vollows me aboudt,
 * Und vags his dail like anydings
 * Vene'er I dakes him oudt?


 * Schust look at him, und see him schump!
 * He likes me pooty vell;
 * Und dere vas somedings 'bout dot tog,
 * Mynheer, I vouldn't sell.


 * "Der collar?" Nein: 'tvas someding else
 * Vrom vich I gould not hart;
 * Und, if dot ding vas dook avay,
 * I dink it prakes mine heart.


 * "Vot vas it, den, aboudt dot tog,"
 * You ashk, "dot's not vor sale?"
 * I dells you vot it ish, mine freund:
 * Tish der vag off dot tog's dail!"