Yawcob Strauss and Other Poems/Mine Moder-in-Law


 * Dheke vas many qveer dings, in dis land off der free,
 * I neffer could qvite understand;
 * Der beoples dhey all seem so deefrent to me
 * As dhose in mine own faderland.
 * Dhey gets blendy droubles, und indo mishaps,
 * Mitoudt der least bit off a cause;
 * Und, vould you pelief id? dhose mean Yangee chaps,
 * Dhey fights mit dheir moder-in-laws!


 * Shust dink off a vhite man so vicked as dot!
 * Vhy not gife der oldt lady a show?
 * Who vas id gets oup, vhen der nighdt id vas hot,
 * Mit mine baby, I shnst like to know?
 * Und dhen in der vinter, vhen Katrine vas sick,
 * Und der mornings vas shnowy und raw,
 * Who made righdt avay oup dot fire so qvick?
 * Vhy, dot vas mine moder-in-law.


 * Id vas von off dhose voman's righdts vellers, I been—
 * Dhere vas nodings dot's mean aboudt me;
 * Vhen der oldt lady vishes to run dot masheen,
 * Vhy, I shust lets her run id, you see.
 * Und vhen dot shly Yawcob vas cutting some dricks
 * (A block off der oldt chip he vas, yaw!),
 * Eef she goes for dot chap like some dousands off bricks,
 * Dot's all righdt! She's mine moder-in-law.


 * Veek oudt und veek in, id vas alvays der same,
 * Dot vomans vas boss off der house;
 * Budt, dhen, neffer mindt! I vas glad dot she came,
 * She vas kind to mine young Yawcob Strauss.
 * Und vhen dhere vas vater to get vrom der shpring,
 * Und fire-vood to shplit oup und saw,
 * She vas velcome to do id. Dhere's not anyding
 * Dot's too goot for mine moder-in-law.