From the German by Charles Timothy Brooks
A Song to Be Sung behind the Stove
OLD Winter is the man for me—
Stout-hearted, sound, and steady;
Steel nerves and bones of brass hath he:
Come snow, come blow, he ’s ready!
If ever man was well, ’t is he;
He keeps no fire in his chamber,
And yet from cold and cough is free...
Anonymous translation from the German
A FAMOUS hen ’s my story’s theme,
Which ne’er was known to tire
Of laying eggs, but then she ’d scream
So loud o’er every egg, ’t would seem
The house must be on fire.
A turkey-cock, who ruled the walk,
A wiser bird and older,
Could bear ’t no more, so off did stalk
Right to...
