In front of the door in the sunshine
Where the little cat usually lies,
Gretel stands all alone,
And Gretel is blithe.
She hears the early morning bells ringing,
How that goes so merrily
When the school girls sing:
"When the May breezes blow."
 
In front of the door completely lost in thought
Gretel stands and laughs:
What might Hansel be doing
Right now in the chamber?
And she scampers up the few steps
And fetches her hat,
She wishes to call her Hansel
For she is fond of him.
 
And it barely takes a moment
Then she comes skipping back,
In her buttonhole nothing but violets,
In her eyes pure happiness!
Furtively she presses down on the latch,
Pokes her head through the crack:
Dear Hansel, I am come to get you,
Will you come along into the woods?
 
Far away from the streets,
Silly lad, say yes!
And Hansel cannot stop himself,
And Hansel cries: Hurrah!
In a thrice he kisses Gretel
Upon her red lips,
And Gretel resists,
And she giggles: oh, you!