Yawcob Strauss and Other Poems/Zwei Lager


 * Der night vas dark as anyding,
 * Ven at mine door two vellers ring,
 * Und say, ven I ask who vas dhere,
 * "Git oup und git" — und den dey schvear-
 * "Zwei lager."


 * I says, "Tis late: schust leaf mine house,
 * Und don'd pe making sooch a towse!"
 * Dey only lauft me in der face,
 * Und say, "Pring oudt, ' Old Schweizerkase,'
 * Zwei lager."


 * I dold dem dot der bier vas oudt;
 * But dose two snaps set oup a shout,
 * Und said no matter if 'tvas late,
 * Dot dey moost haf "put on der schlate!
 * Zwei lager.


 * "Oh! go avay, dot is goot poys,"
 * Mine moder says, "und schtop der noise:"
 * But sdill dem vellers yellt avay;
 * Und dis vas all dot dey vould say, —
 * "Zwei lager."


 * "Vot makes you gome I" mine taughter said,
 * "Ven beoples all vas in deir ped:
 * Schust gome to-morrow ven you're dhry."
 * But dem two plackguards sdill did cry,
 * "Zwei lager."


 * "Vot means you by sooch dings as dese
 * I go und calls for der boleese,"
 * Says SchneigeH'ritz, who lifs next door:
 * Dey only yellt more as pefore.
 * "Zwei lager."


 * " You schust holdt on a leedle vhile,"
 * Says mine Katrina mit a schmile:
 * "I vix dose shaps, you pet my life,
 * So dey don'd ask off Pfeiffer's vife
 * Zwei lager."


 * Den righdt avay she got a peese
 * Of goot und schtrong old Limburg cheese,
 * Und put it schust outside der door;
 * Und den ve didn't hear no more
 * "Zwei lager."