Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry. 1904.
Humorous Poems: II. MiscellaneousDot Long-Handled Dipper
Charles Follen Adams (1842–1918)D
Und in schveetest langvitch its virtues may tell;
Und how, ven a poy, he mit eggsdasy dook it,
Vhen dripping mit coolness it rose vrom der vell.
I don’d take some schtock in dot manner off trinking!
It vas too mooch like horses und cattle, I dink.
Dhere vas more sadisfactions, in my vay of dinking,
Mit dot long-handled dipper dot hangs by der sink.
Dot vould soundt pooty goot—eef it only vas drue—
Der vater schbills ofer, you petter pelieve it!
Und runs down your schleeve and schlops into your shoe.
Dhen down on your nose comes dot oldt iron handle,
Und makes your eyes vater so gvick as a vink.
I dells you dot bookit don’d hold a candle
To dot long-handled dipper dot hangs py der sink.
Vhen it settles righdt down to a cold, freezing rain,
To haf dot rope coom oup so light as a feddher,
Und findt dot der bookit vas proke off der chain.
Dhen down in der vell mit a pole you go fishing,
Vhile indo your back cooms an oldt-fashioned kink;
I pet you mine life all der time you vas vishing
For dot long-handled dipper dot hangs by der sink.
Vhere der vater flows down vrom der schpring on der hill!
I schust vas der schap dot vill alvays indorse it,
Oxsbecially nighds vhen der veddher vas chill.
Vhen Pfeiffer’s oldt vell mit der schnow vas all cofered,
Und he vades droo der schnow drift to get him a trink,
I schlips vrom der hearth vhere der schiltren vas hofered,
To dot long-handled dipper dot hangs by der sink.
Off mikerobes und tadpoles schust gif dhem dheir fill!
Gife me dot pure vater dot all der time courses
Droo dhose pipes dot run down vrom der schpring on der hill.
Und eef der goot dings of dis vorld I gets rich in,
Und frendts all aroundt me dheir glasses schall clink,
I schtill vill rememper dot oldt coundtry kitchen,
Und dot long-handled dipper dot hangs by der sink.