PA German Dialect

Es Neinuhr Schtick
 

1-29-04

Ihr liewe Leit:

   'S aerscht en paar Linye aussem Salli Holsbock seim Gedicht "En Gwilding Paerdi":

Im Schotyaahr wann der Reife kummt
   Un die Nachde warre kiehl,
Saagt die Mammi, "Es misse Debbich bei,
   Ei, mer hen you neddemol viel;
Sin haerli zwansich in der Kischt
   Un der Winder iss nimmi weit,
Do misse mol bletzlich Blacke bei,
   Ass mer schtickere iss hoch Zeit,"

   Un en paar Linye aussem Edgar M. Eshelmann seim Gedicht "Yuscht en Debbich':

'Siss yuscht en kammener Debbich - she?
En Gwilt alt faeschen - awwer schee.
Hoscht du die Scheeheit schunn bedracht
Vun so me Debbich, heemgemacht?
So scheen Blacke, grooss un glee,
Die Farwe all in Roie schteh;
Alles in Addning zammegeneht;
Yuscht druffzugucke iss en Freeht.
Ken Neehmaschien - all Handeswarrick;
'S iss awwer schee un gut un schtarrick.

   Black? Zammegeneeht? Ya, gewiss, gaar net gewowe, wie der Russel W. Gilbert uns saagt in seim Gedicht "En Gwilt":

En Gwilt iss en Debbich, des weess ich,
Geneeht imme holsiche Gschtell,
Gewowe mol net uff me Webschtuhl.
Die Weibsleit, sie blaudre sich Grell.

Die glee, feine Schtich nooch me Muschder,
Wu faahre scheins iwwerall hie;
Sie griesse recht hatzhafdich Bilder,
Wu fiehle der Nodelschmatz frieh.

   Awwer wu sin die Blacke herkumme? Der John Birmelin hot mol in seim "N Alder Debbich" gschriwwe:

En alder Debbich-
Aus lauder Schtickelblacke!
Do waar mer fleissich mit der Scheer,
Wu aeryets ebbes iwwerich waar
Vun alle Sadde Fracke…

Un hen die Blacke un Debbiche name ghatt? Do sin noch en paar Linye vum "En Gwilt":

   Wie heesse deel Debbich bei Naame?
En "Siwweschtann," "Beddelmann," "Batsch,"
En "Sunneblumm," " Eecheblaat," "Gensfuuss."
En "Backeschtee," "Paradiesbaam,"
En "Dullebaan," "Greiz un en Schtann,"
En "Ewicher Yeeger," en "Aadler,"
En "Blummebaam," Bring die Ladann!

Macht's gut,
Der Alt Professer



 
Dear people:

   First of all a few lines from Solly Hulsbuck's poem "A Quilting Party":

In the fall when the frost comes
   And the nights get cool,
Mommy says, "We've got to get quilts,
   Oh, we don't even have many;
There are hardly twenty in the chest
   And winter is not far away,
We've got to get patches right away,
   Then we quilt it is high time."

   And a few lines from Edgar M. Eshelman's poem "Just a Quilt":



It's just a common quilt - see?
A quilt old fashioned -but nice.
Have you observed the beauty
Of such a quilt, homemade?
Such beautiful patches, large and small,
The colors stand all in a row;
Everything sewn together in an orderly way;
Just looking at is a joy.
No sewing machine-all hand work;
But it is beautiful and good and strong.
 


   Patches? Sewn together? Yes, certainly, not at all woven, as Russel W. Gilbert tells us in his poem "A Quilt":
 

A quilt (E) is a Debbich (PG), I know that,
Sewn in a wooden frame,
Not woven at a loom.
The women, they talk themselves shrill.

The little, fine stitches according to a pattern,
That seem to go everywhere;
They greet very bold pictures,
That feel the pain of the needle early.

   But where did the patches come from? John Birmelin once wrote in his "An Old Quilt":

An old quilt-
Made from all quilting patches!
You had to be diligent with the scissors,
Wherever something was left over
From all sorts of dresses…

And did the patches and quilts have names? Here are some more lines from "A Quilt":


   What are some quilts called by name?
A "Seven Stars," "Beggarman," "Small Hand,"
A "Sunflower," "Oakleaf," "Goosefoot,"
A "Brick," "Tree of Paradise,"
A "Tulip," "Cross and Star,"
An "Eternal Hunter," an "Eagle,"
A "Rose of Sharon." Bring the lantern!

Take care,
The Old Professor
 

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