PA German Dialect

Es Neinuhr Schtick

May 19, 2005

Ihr liewe Leit:

Am 21. Moi feiere mer der Armed Forces Daag, un am 30. Moi iss es nadierlich der Gedechtnissdaag. Un deswege bringt eich liewe Leser der alt Professer fer die neegschde zwee Woche zwee Gedichde, die aerscht vum Salli Holsbock:

Es scheint ebaut en dausent Yaahr
   Wie unser Tschaan iss fatt
Mit Buwe vun der Noochberschaft
   Un annre vun dr Schtadt,
Mit Feier in de Aage
Un hocher Schpunk debei,
Fer Freiheet unnerschtitze
   Bis alle Land iss frei;
Mei Hatz iss neegscht verbroche,
   Un die Mammi datt am Geet
Hot bidder gheilt, es waar gewiss
   Uns niemols so verleed;
Es waar ken Drooscht vun kennre Aart
   Ass winsche er bleibt gsund,
Un beede Gott behied en bis
   Der Tschaanni widder kummt.
Mer hen gewisst wie schauderhaft
   Es macht im alde Land,
Un ass des Fechde wiedich iss
   Waar all die Welt bekannt.
Die Schrecklichkeet vun Battlefield,
   De Keenich ihre Brall,
Un groos Gebblaer vun Weltmecht waar
   Uff kors bekannt zu all.
Doch hawwich un die Mammi
   Oft ghockt beim Owetlich
Un ausgemacht minnanner, schur
   Des grickt en anner Gsicht.
Mer finne aus uff weller Weg
   Der Haas mit neegschtem tschumpt
Wann unser Tschaanni schpunki datt
   Mol in der Battle kummt.
Well, ‘s iss haerli noch sex Munet
   Iss er mit de Buwe fatt,
Un akkordin zu der Zeiding
   Iss der Tschaanni uff der Job.
‘S iss ken Keenich so allmechdich
   Odder Tschenrel iwwerm See
Ass unser Bu verschrecke kann
   Vun frei Amerikee.
Grick yuschtemol die Zeiding un
   Beguck die letscht News;
Datt saagt’s der Battle iss am End,
   Die Keenich hen die Blues.
Sie deede ball abhandle
   Fer’n Kaader odder’n Hund,
So geht’s net lang bis unser Bu,
   Der Tschaanni, widder kummt.

   Neegscht Woch mache mer weider.

Macht’s gut,
Der Alt Professer

Dear people:

   On May 21 we will celebrate Armed Forces Day, and on May 30 it is naturally Memorial Day. And for that reason the old Professor is bringing you dear readers for the next two weeks two poems, the first of which is by Solly Hulsbuck:

It seems about a thousand years
   That our John went away
With boys from the neighborhood
   And others from the city,
With fie in their eyes
   And high spunk too,
To support freedom
   Till all lands are free.
My heart almost broke,
   And Mommy there at the gate
Cried bitterly, we were certainly
   Never before so depressed.
There was no solace of any kind
   Except to wish that he stay healthy,
And pray that God will protect him till
   Johnny comes home again.
We knew how terrible
   Things were in the old country,
And that the fighting is furious
   Was known to the whole world.
The horror of the battlefield,
   The king’s bragging,
And great shouting of world powers was
   Of course known to all.
But I and Mommy
   Often sat at twilight time
And decided together, surely
   Things will be different (get another face);
We’ll find out in what way
   The rabbit will next jump
When our Johnny, spunky,
   Once gets into battle.
Well, it’s hardly yet six months
   That he went away with the boys,
And according to the newspaper
   Johnny is on the job.
There is no king so almighty
   Or general across the sea
Who can scare our boy
   From free America.
Just get the newspaper and
   Look at the latest news;
There it says the battle is at an end,
   The kings have the blues.
They will soon negotiate
   For a cat or a dog,
So it won’t be long till our boy,
   Johnny, comes (home) again.

   We will continue next week.

Take care,
The Old Professor

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updated 3-15-2007 paf