by Hans Bötticher (1883 - 1934), as Joachim Ringelnatz
Translation © by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947)

Unterm Tisch
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  ENG
Es war ein Stückchen Fromage de brie,
Das fiel unterm Tisch. Man sah nicht wie.
Dort standen zwei Lackschuh mit silbernen Schnallen.
Die fanden an dem Fromage Gefallen
Und traten nach einiger Überwindung
Mit ihm in ganz intime Verbindung.
Als abends die beidem Schnallengezierten
In einer feudalen Gesellschaft souptieren,
Erhoben sich plötzlich zwei andere Schuhe
Und knarrten verlegen und baten um Ruhe
Und sagten, als alles ruhig war:
"Verehrte, es -- riecht hier so sonderbar."

Text Authorship:

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

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

  • ENG English (Gary Bachlund) , "Under the table", copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2007-05-12
Line count: 12
Word count: 74

Under the table
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
A little piece of Brie cheese
Fell under the table. No one saw how.
There stood two patent-leather shoes with silver buckles.
They found the cheese appealing;
They tried and, after some great effort,
Became intimately acquainted with it.
In the evening both the buckle-adorned
Dined in aristocratic company,
When suddenly another pair of shoes rose up,
And, creaking in embarrassment, asked for silence,
And, when all were silent, said:
"Honored guests, it -- smells so peculiar in here."

Text Authorship:

Based on:

 
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2009-03-13
Line count: 12
Word count: 78