Es Pennsilfaanisch Deitsch Eck
(Originally published in the July 29, 1987 issue of The Shopping News)
DES WEIBSMENSCH IN DER SCHPIGGEL
By Gladys S. Martin
Wer is des Weibsmensch as ich seh
Do in mei Schpiggel ganz allee?
Sie guckt so fremm alt zu mich,
Was dutt sie do in meiner Kich?
Des Bild as ich aablick datt drin
Guckt net wie’s Bild in meiner Sinn.
Oh, wu is sell yung Maedel dann,
As ich sie nimmi sehne kann?
Des Maedel in der Schpiggel waar
Als yung un dinn, mit dunkle Haar.
Ich hab sie vielmols gsehne datt,
Was is nau letz, is sie ganz fatt?
Ferwas schteht heit en alde Fraa,
Wu geschder en yung Maedel waar?
Des alt Weibsmensch verschtaunt mich so,
Denkscht sie is nau fer ewich do?
Ich kann des Ding gaar net verschteh,
Ich guck sie aa un saag, “Oh, nee!”
Was will des alt Ding in mei Haus?
Ich lock der Hund un yaag sie naus!
Sie guckt yo gaar net wie sie sett,
Ihre Haut is runslich as en Gwetsch.
Ihre Haar sin groh un schtruwwlich aa;
Wer is dann die do alde Fraa?
Wann ich mei Aage hatt zu-drick,
Kummt sell yung Maedel widder zerick?
Fer mit mei Aage zu, kann ich
Sell Maedel sahne as guckt wie mich!
Awwer wann ich widder guck, so gaar,
Datt schteht die alt Fraa, wie davor!
Sie guckt mich aa, as wann sie heit
Viel Sach as sie mich saage wett.
Ich muss sie dauere, fer ich seh,
As ich sie net gleich, des dutt sie weh.
Ich seh en Draen dann in ihr Aag;
Ich butz es weck fer sie, wann ich maag.
Sie guckt so draurich datt allee,
Des Weibsmensch as ich so glaar seh.
Ich denk ich muss sie en Heemet gewwe,
Do in mei Schpiggel, in mei Haus ewee.
THE WOMAN IN THE MIRROR
Who is this woman that I see
Here in my mirror quite alone?
She looks to strange and old to me,
What’s she doing here in my kitchen?
The image that I behold in there
Does not look like the image in my mind.
Oh, where is that young girl
That I can no longer see her?
This girl in the mirror used to be
Young and thin, with dark hair.
I often saw her there,
What is wrong now, has she gone away?
Why does an old woman stand there today,
Where a young girl was yesterday?
This old woman astonishes me so,
Do you think she’s now here to stay?
I cannot understand this at all,
I look at her and say, “Oh, no!”
What does this old thing want in my house?
I’ll call the dog and chase her out!
She does not look at all like she should,
Her skin is as wrinkled as a prune.
Her hair is grey and disheveled too;
Who then is this old woman?
If I close my eyes tightly,
Will the young girl return?
For with my eyes closed I can
See that girl that looks like me.
But when I look again, would you believe,
There stands that old woman as before!
She looks at me as though she had today
Much she would like to tell me.
I must pity her, for I see,
The fact that I don’t like her causes her pain.
I see a tear there in her eye;
I’ll wipe it away for her, if I may.
She looks so sad there alone,
This woman that I clearly see.
I guess I must give her a home,
Here in my mirror, yes, in my house.
***
In the latter part of April, Gladys S. Martin of Glenwood Drive in Ephrata mailed us two poems, DIE FAREWICH WELT, which you read last week, and DES WEIBSMENSCH IN DER SCHPIGGEL, which appears above. As you have observed the two poems are quite different from each other. DIE FAREWICH WELT looks outward into the world of nature and DES WEIBSMENSCH IN DER SCHPIGGEL is introspective and examines the matter of growing visibly older. We suspect that most of our older (Was is alt?) readers are just as young in heart as they were 30, 40 or 50 years ago. (We sometimes imagine that we’re younger in here than some of our twenty-year-old students. Sie hen net viel Erfaahring im Lewe.)
We consider DES WEIBSMENSCH IN DER SCHPIGGEL one of the most beautiful poems which has ever gone through our WADDEFRESSER. It could only have been written by someone who has gained the perspective which comes with middle age. At the same time it contains an element of humor which prevents it from being too serious. A real Dutchman or woman sees full well the darker side of life, but he or she always has a twinkle in the eye…weil mir immer der Glaawe un die Hoffning hen.
Gladys, we salute you! You have brought color and reflection into our lives!
July 29, 1987
Yuscht en Bischli-Gnippli,
as aa seller Kall im Schpiggel
begucke muss