Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, GERMANY; A WINTER TALE: CAPUT 20, by HEINRICH HEINE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

GERMANY; A WINTER TALE: CAPUT 20, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: In an hour from harburg to hamburg I went
Last Line: "but I leave the peel uneaten."
Subject(s): Germany; Politics & Government; Germans


IN an hour from Harburg to Hamburg I went;
The shades of evening were thick'ning,
The stars in the heavens their greetings sent,
And the air was soft and quick'ning.

And when I reach'd my mother at last,
She was wellnigh frighten'd with gladness
She cried "My darling child!" and clasp'd
Her hands together with madness.

"My darling child, full thirteen years
"Have pass'd since our last meeting;
"You surely are hungry; tell me now
"What you'll take in the way of eating?

"I've here some fish, and goose-flesh too,
"And handsome oranges also!" --
"Then give me some fish, and goose-flesh too,
"And handsome oranges also!"

And whilst I ate with an appetite good,
My mother was lively and merry;
She ask'd me this, and she ask'd me that,
And her questions were awkward, very.

"My darling child, in your foreign home
"Do you get all the things you require?
"Is your wife pretty skilful at keeping house?
"Are your shirts and stockings darn'd by her?"

"The fish is good, my mother dear,
"But in silence one ought to eat it;
"'Tis easy to get a bone in one's throat,
"Pray leave me in peace to complete it."

And when I had finish'd the excellent fish,
The goose next made its appearance;
My mother again ask'd for this and for that,
With the same ill-timed perseverance.

"My darling child, which land do you think
"Is the best for people to dwell in, --
"This place, or France? which nation's the best?
"What thing does each excel in?" --

"A German goose, my mother dear,
"Is good as one of the courses;
"But the French stuff geese far better than we,
"And they also have better sauces."

And then the goose had taken its leave,
The oranges presently follow'd,
And tasted so unexpectedly nice,
That with pleasure they quickly were swallow'd.

But now my mother again began
Her questions with very much pleasure;
She ask'd me a thousand things, but some
Were awkward beyond all measure.

"My darling child, pray tell me now,
"If politics still you're inclined to?
"Which party in the state to support
"Have you the greatest mind to?" --

"The quality, my mother dear,
"Of your oranges cannot be beaten;
"The sweet juice I swallow with much delight,
"But I leave the peel uneaten."





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