Yawcob Strauss and Other Poems/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.