PA German Dialect

Es Neinuhr Schtick

March 25, 2004

Ihr liewe Leit:

Letscht Woch hen mer Vaerscht vumme Gedicht vum Ralph Funk gelese, "Der Rewwer." Awwer der Charles Ziegler (1854-1930) hot aa sei eegne Gedanke ghatt, wie mer vumme Rewwer schreibt:

Der Rewwer fliesst munder un froh dehie,
Sarglos rollt der Rewwer;
Er geht sei Gang unne Kummer un Mieh,
Er froogt ner "Ferwas?" er wunnert net "Wie?"
Sarglos rollt der Rewwer.

Un so wie der Rewwer, so gehn ich,
Sarglos rollt der Rewwer;
Er weess der Weg - nie verliert er sich-
Un mer traewle zamme recht briederlich;
Sarglos rollt der Rewwer.

Wann die Schtanne funkle in der Nacht,
Ruhich rollt der Rewwer;
Er schockelt mich ei, er draagt mich dacht,
Un ich geb mich gans in Goddes Macht:
Ruhich rollt der Rewwer.

Hinaus un hinab zum ewiche See,
Sarglos rollt der Rewwer;
Er gebt sich hie unne Ach un Weh,
Un vergeht im Meer wie'n Flocke Schnee;
Sarglos schtarrebt der Rewwer.

Der Rewwer schtarrebt un iss dot? Awwer graad letscht Woch hen mer gelese:

Noh fliesst er in der See-was noh?
Well, datt sehnt mer schunn
Die Sunn fer Reggewolke ziegt
Deel Wasser fer die Runn.

Nau schreibt Funk weider:

Was vum Regge wu zeitlich fallt,
Gezogge bei der Sunn -
Wie vorhaer gsaat - vum groosse See?
Was saagt mer datt devun?

Des fallt wie Daa un Regge gleich
Uff Mensche breet un weit,
Un bringt zu miede, schwere Seel
Frisch Mut in ihre Zeit.

Mer kann net wisse wie un wann
Un waer die Sege grickt;
Doch dreimol gsegend daer wu
Unwissentlich sie schickt.

Nau, wann's warricklich waahr iss ass der Rewwer "sarglos schtarrebt," dann kennt mer net saage ass er in der See fliesst un schtarrebt so dass er dann weiderlewe kann?

Vun Schpring zu Rewwer, See zu Wolk,
Deel Wasser fer die Runn.

Macht's gut,
Der Alt Professer

Dear people:

Last week we read verses/stanzas from Ralph Funk's "The River." But Charles Ziegler (1854-1930) had his own thoughts also about how to write about a river:

The river flows along lively and happily,
Trouble-free rolls the river;
It runs its course without grief or trouble,
It doesn't ask "Why?" it doesn't wonder "How?"
Trouble-free rolls the river.

And just like the river, so go I,
Trouble-free flows the river;
It knows the way - it never gets lost-
And we travel together in a brotherly way;
Trouble-free rolls the river.

When the stars sparkle in the night,
Quietly rolls the river;
It rocks me to sleep, it carries me quietly,
And I give myself entirely to God's might;
Quietly rolls the river;

Out and down to the eternal sea,
Trouble-free rolls the river;
It resigns itself without any outcry,
And dissolves in the ocean like a snowflake;
Trouble-free dies the river.

The river dies and is dead? But just last week we read:

Then if flows into the sea - what then?
Well, there one already sees
That the sun draws up for rain clouds
Some water for the run.

Then Funk continues:

What about the rain that falls in time,
Drawn up by the sun -
As we said before - from the large ocean?
What does one say about that?

It falls as dew and rain equally
On people far and wide,
And brings to tired, heavy souls
Fresh courage in their time.

One can't know how and when
And who gets the blessings;
But thrice blessed is he who
Unknowingly is sent them.

Now, if it is really true that the river "dies trouble-free," then couldn't we say that it flows into the sea and dies so that it can continue to live?

From spring to river, se to cloud,
Some water for the run.

Take care,
The Old Professor

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updated 3-15-2007 paf