by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875)

Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  CAT ENG ENG FRE ITA
Kleine Gäste, kleines Haus.
Liebe Mäusin oder Maus,
Stell dich nur kecklich ein
Heut' nacht bei Mondenschein!
Mach aber die Tür fein hinter dir zu,
Hörst du?
Dabei hüte dein Schwänzchen!
Nach Tische singen wir,
Nach Tische springen wir
Und machen ein Tänzchen:
Witt witt!
Meine alte Katze tanzt wahrscheinlich mit.

Note: The poem is preceded by this line: "(Das Kind geht dreimal um die Falle und spricht:)"

Composition:

    Set to music by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947), "Mausfallen-Sprüchlein", 2009 [ medium voice or high voice and piano ]

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

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

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Proverbi de la ratera", copyright © 2021, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "A little mousetrap epigram", copyright ©
  • ENG English (Gary Bachlund) , rhymed paraphrase, copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Petit épigramme de la souricière", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Piccolo motto della trappola per topi", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Johann Winkler

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 55