The Poetry Corner

Breitmann and the Turners

By Charles G. Leland

Hans Breitmann shoined de Turners, Novemper in de fall, Und dey gifed a boostin bender All in de Turner Hall. Dere coomed de whole Gesangverein Mit der Liederlich Aepfel Chor, Und dey blowed on de drooms and stroomed on de fifes Till dey couldnt refife no more. Hans Breitmann shoined de Turners, Dey all set oop some shouts, Dey tookd him into deir Turner Hall, Und poots him a course of shprouts. Dey poots him on de barell-hell pars Und shtands him oop on his head, Und dey poomps de beer mit an enchine hose In his mout dill hes pout half tead! Hans Breitmann shoined de Turners; Dey make shimnastig dricks; He stoot on de middle of de floor, Und put oop a fifdy-six. Und den he drows it to de roof, Und schwig off a treadful trink: De veight coom toomple back on his headt, Und py shinks! he didnt vink! Hans Breitmann shoined de Turners: Mein Gott! how dey drinked und shwore; Dere vas Schwabians und Tyrolers, Und Bavarians by de score. Some vellers coomed from de Rheinland, Und Frankfort-on-de-Main, Boot dere vas only von Sharman dere, Und he vas a Holstein Dane. Hans Breitmann shoined de Turners, Mit a Limpurg cheese he coom; Vhen he open de box it schmell so loudt It knock de musik doomb. Vhen de Deutschers kit de flavour, It coorl de haar on deir head; Boot dere vas dwo Amerigans dere; Und, py tam! it kilt dem dead! Hans Breitmann shoined de Turners; De ladies coomed in to see; Dey poot dem in de blace for de gals, All in der gal-lerie. Dey ashk: Vhere ish der Breitmann? Und dey dremple mit awe and fear Vhen dey see him schwingen py de toes, A trinken lager beer. Hans Breitmann shoined de Turners: I dells you vot py tam! Dey sings de great Urbummellied: De holy Sharman psalm. Und vhen de kits to de gorus You ought to hear dem dramp! It scared der Teufel down below To hear de Dootchmen stamp. Hans Breitmann shoined de Turners: By Donner! it vas grand, Vhen de whole of dem goes valkin Und dancin on deir hand, Mit deir veet all vavin in de air, Gottstausend! vot a dricks! Dill der Breitmann fall und dey all go down Shoost like a row of bricks. Hans Breitmann shoined de Turners, Dey lay dere in a heap, And slept dill de early sonnen shine Come in at de vindow creep; And de preeze it vake dem from deir dream, And dey go to kit deir feed: Here hat dis song an ende Das ist DES BREITMANNSLEID.