The mirror, the comb and the sponge | The mirror, the comb

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by Hans Bötticher (1883 - 1934)

Translation © by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947)

Der Spiegel, der Kamm und der Schwamm

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: ENG

Der Spiegel, der Kamm
Und der Schwamm
Und das weisse Handtuch an der Wand
Und ein Mann, der hinter dem Kleiderschrank stand,
Die warteten auf das schöne Mädchen
Käthchen.
Und endlich, endlich kam Käthchen gegangen.
Da küsste der Schwamm ihr Mund und Wangen
Und sie küsste den Schwamm und beugte sich nieder
Und küsste das Handtuch und küsste es wieder.
Sie liess sich von dem Spiegel umschmeicheln
Und von dem Kamme ihr Goldhaar streicheln.
Dann sagte sie allen recht schönen Dank.
Dann sah sie den Mann hinterm Kleiderschrank
Und rannte davon und schrie dabei:
"Zu Hilfe! Mörder!" und "Polizei!" -- --

Der Mensch glaubt über den Dingen zu stehen.
Hier war das Gegenteil deutlich zu sehen.

Text Authorship:

by Hans Bötticher (1883 - 1934), "Der Spiegel, der Kamm und der Schwamm", appears in Die Schnupftabacksdose - Stumpfsinn in Versen, first published 1912 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947), "Der Spiegel, der Kamm und der Schwamm", 2009 [ medium voice and piano ], from Ringelnatz in dreiviertel Takt, no. 7 [sung text checked 1 time]

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

ENG English (Gary Bachlund) , "The mirror, the comb and the sponge", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2010-02-02
Line count: 18
Word count: 114

The mirror, the comb and the sponge

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

The mirror, the comb
And the make-up sponge
And the white towel on the wall
And the wardrobe-hidden, unknown man who just possibly might lunge
Waited for beautiful 
Kate to call.
And finally, oh finally Kate did come along.
Yeah, the sponge kissed her mouth, then kissed her cheek,
And she kissed the sponge, then bowed
And kissed the towel again, though meek,
With flattery from the mirror allowed.
Her blonde hair by the comb was caressed.
To them her fine and proper thanks she addressed.
Then she saw that wardrobe-hidden lad
And ran away from the unknown cad,
Hollering: "Help! Murder!" and ""Police!"

Man believes things that might have been.
Here the opposite was clearly seen.

Text Authorship:

by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947), "The mirror, the comb and the sponge", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]

Based on:

a text in German (Deutsch) by Hans Bötticher (1883 - 1934), "Der Spiegel, der Kamm und der Schwamm", appears in Die Schnupftabacksdose - Stumpfsinn in Versen, first published 1912
- Go to the text page.

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2010-02-02
Line count: 18
Word count: 117