Es Pennsilfaanisch Deitsch Eck

Es Pennsilfaanisch Deitsch Eck

(Originally published in the January 28, 1987 issue of The Shopping News) 

ICH WEES NET WAER

Translated by D.B. Stauffer

Ich wees net waer, vielleicht waar’s mich,

En ungut Watt hot gschproche.

Ich wees net waer, vielleicht waar’s mich,

Em Schpreches hot verbroche.

Ich wees net waer, vielleicht waar’s mich,

En Nochber hto verdrosse.

Ich wees net waer, vielleicht waar’s mich,

En Freind im Schtich hot glosse.

Ich wees net ware, vielleicht waar’s mich,

Daer mei Missdritt hot gsehne.

Ich wees net waer, ich hoff sis dich,

Daer mich dutt draa gemaahne.

Ich wees net waer, es waar net mich,

Daer die Sach so hot wolle.

Doch wees ich waer uns helfe kann,

Die Sache recht zu schtelle.

Waer dies Gedicht un gschriwwe hot,

Wees ich, ich duh bekenne;

Waer mich dazu gedriwwe hot,

Den will ich do net nenne.

***

I DON’T KNOW WHO

I don’t know who, perhaps ‘twas me,

An unkind word had spoken.

I don’t know who, perhaps ‘twas me,

A promise too, had broken.

I don’t know who, perhaps ‘twas me,

A neighbor had offended.

I don’t know who, perhaps ‘twas me,

Left someone unbefriended.

I don’t know who, perhaps ‘twas you,

Who my misconduct sees.

I don’t know who, I hope ‘tis you,

Who will remind me, please.

I don’t know who, it was not me,

Who these things so desired,

But I know who can help us

To correct things as required.

Who composed this verse and did write,

I know, without contention,

Who prompted me to this attempt,

I do not choose to mention.

***

Last last summer, a most welcome letter and ICH WEES NET WAER reached us from our good friend Daniel B. Stauffer, who resides on Pleasant Valley Road “bei Effredaa.” But only late in October did a redding up process in our “Waddefresser-Schtubb” get ICH WEES NET WAER into the hopper. Mer kennt vielleicht saage: Bischli-Gnippli is naryets, wann er net hinnenoch is.

We are delighted to be able to share D.B. Stauffer’s Dutch version of I Don’t Know Who with the readers of the Ephrata Shopping News. It provides a pleasant change of pace and turns our thoughts in other directions.

We hope the publication of this translation will encourage others to take a favorite English poem or story and write it in Dutch. We are always looking for fresh material in the dialect. Losst uns net im Schtich!

January 28, 1987

Yuscht en Bischli-Gnippli

vun der Millerschtadt

im Kanneschtoge Daal