Yawcob Strauss and Other Poems/The Puzzled Dutchman




 * I'm a proken-hearted Deutscher,
 * Vot's villed mit crief und shame.
 * I dells you vot der drouple ish:
 * I doosn't know my name.


 * You dinks dis fery vunny, eh ?
 * Ven you der schtory hear,
 * You vill not vender den so mooch,
 * It vas so schtrange und queer.


 * Mine moder had dwo leedle twins;
 * Dey vas me und mine broder:
 * Ve lookt so fery mooch alike,
 * No von knew vich vrom toder.


 * Von off der poys vas "Yawcob,"
 * Und "Hans" der Oder's name:
 * But den it made no tifferent;
 * Ve both got called der same.


 * Vell! von off us got tead, —
 * Yaw, Mynheer, dot ish so!
 * But vedder Hans or Yawcob,
 * Mine moder she don'd know.


 * Und so I am in drouples:
 * I gan't kit droo mine hed
 * Vedder I'm Hans vot's lifing,''
 * Or Yawcob vot is tead!