Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE DINNER, by JOHANN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE DINNER, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Ah! Many a guest is coming
Last Line: Never a one will be here!
Subject(s): Dinners & Dining


AH! many a guest is coming
Around my table to-day;
The fish, the flesh, and the poultry
Are smoking in goodly array;
The invitations were special,
They say they will surely appear.
Hans, go look at the window;
Time that the people were here!

Girls are coming by dozens,
Maidens whom even their foes
Never have once detected
Kissing beneath the rose;
Such are the damsels invited;
They said they would surely appear
Hans, go look at the window;
Time that the maidens were here!

Plenty of fine young fellows
Are coming to drink my health;
Civil, and moral, and modest,
Spite of their titles and wealth.
The invitations were early;
They say they will surely appear.
Hans, go look at the window;
Time that the younkers were here!

Plenty of wives are coming,
Such as the ugliest spouse
Never has driven a moment
To think of breaking their vows.
How pleasant to see them together!
They said they would surely appear.
Hans, go look at the window;
Time that the women were here!

Husbands also are coming,
Models of temperate lives;
Men who are blind to beauty,
Save in their excellent wives.
All were politely invited,
And say they will surely appear.
Hans, go look at the window;
Time that the fellows were here!

Poets are also invited;
The pleasantest ever were known;
Who list to another's verses
Cheerfully as to their own;
What capital dining companions!
They said they would surely appear.
Hans, go look at the window;
Time that the poets were here!

Alas! with watching and waiting,
The dinner is certainly spoiled;
The viands are cold in the dishes,
The roast and the baked and the boiled.
Perhaps we were over-punctilious;
Our feast is a failure, I fear.
Hans, come away from the window;
Never a one will be here!





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