by Wilhelm Busch (1832 - 1908)
Translation © by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947)

Der weise Schuhu
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  ENG
Der Schuhu hörte stets mit Ruh,
wenn zwei sich disputierten, zu. -
Mal stritten sich der Storch und Rabe,
Was Gott der Herr zuerst erschaffen habe,
Ob erst den Vogel oder erst das Ei.
"Den Vogel!" - schrie der Storch -
"Das ist doch klar wie Brei!"
Der Rabe krächzt: "Das Ei, wobei ich bleibe;
wer's nicht begreift, hat kein Gehirn im Leibe!"

Da fingen an zu quaken
Zwei Frösch in grünen Jacken.
Der eine quakt: "Der Storch hat recht!"
Der zweite quakt: "Der Rab hat recht!"

"Was?" - schrien die beiden Disputaxe -
"was ist denn das für ein Gequakse??" -
Der Streit erlosch. -
Ein jeder nimmt sich einen Frosch,
Der schmeckt ihm garnicht schlecht.

Ja - denkt der Schuhu - so bin ich!
Der Weise schweigt und räuspert sich!

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) , "The wise owl", rhymed paraphrase, copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2010-02-03
Line count: 20
Word count: 123

The wise owl
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
The wise old owl holds still his tongue
When two sides' angry words are flung.
A stork and raven once did dispute --
"Did the Lord God (who was truly quite astute)
Make first the egg or bird? Refute!"
The stork screeched, "T'was the fowl!
That is truth, most certainly allowed!"
The raven croaked, "The egg was first!
Who can't see that is brain-dead! Cursed!"

They both went on quite loud and long,
As two nosey frogs joined the duo's song.
The first invoked, "The stork's so bright!"
The second croaked, "The raven's right!"

"What?" the argumentative birds did say.
"Such frogs dare to join in our bird-brain fray?"
The argument ceased right then and there,
As the birds snapped up the usurping pair
And lunched on frog as their lunchtime fare.

"Yup," punned the wise old owl,
"Staying silent, the frogs would not have run afoul."

Text Authorship:

Based on:

 
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2010-02-03
Line count: 20
Word count: 146