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The Note in German
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Many years ago...in 1992 to be exact...I went to Austin for the 50th reunion of my high school graduating class and as I was leaving town I stopped by the University of Texas campus to see if I could see Dr. Schulz-Behrend or Doctor Wolfgang Michael who had been my two principal German professors before I graduated in 1949. Neither of them was in their respective offices which is not surprising because it was a very unusuaql time for a visit. It was about 5 PM on a Saturday and I would really have been amazed to find anyone in their office at that time. But I did find their offices and decided to leave a note on Dr, Michael's office door. I had seen neither of the two professors for close to 43 years not had I had any further instruction in German. So smart-alec me I decided to make the note a poem and to write it in German (?). So without a moments hesitation nor any reference to a dictionary or anything I composed the following poem:
Ein Geist
Hier steht ein Stimme von Jahren vor,
Der Dicker Vetter doch von JEDERMAN,
Und Der Wirt von Minna gar.
Und wenn andern spielt den Faust
(Erster Teil nur, naturlich) war ich auch da.
Und Spaeter zwanzig Jahren meine Tochter spielt
In Vertauschten Koepfer hier.
Kennen Sie diesen Geist?
Am 1 August 1992 war ich hier.
Now I didn't send this on to brag about my German . In fact I imagine it provided many a good laugh around the Modern Languages faculty at UT. I sent it to provide a good laugh for those of you who do speak German. And for those who do not I submit this translation:
A Ghost
Here is a voice from long ago,
The fat cousin of the play "Everyman"
And the Innkeeper Of "Minna von Barnhelm".
And when others played in "Faust"
(First Part only, naturally) I was also there.
And twenty years later my daughter played here in "Transposed Heads".
Do you know who this ghost is?
I got a big bang out of finding this scratched out poetry on the back of a University of Texas Extension Catalogue. It was the first time that I had thought of that doggrel in years and years. I might explain also for those who have not read "Faust" that the Second part of the play is very crude and sexually oriented and Doctor Michael very wisely cut the whole part from our performance---which has been customary for years and years in performing the play. I did not have a role in "Faust"
but was accorded the role of "Stage Manager" for the play. I had a lot of fun in the German activities at UT. I don't remember when it was that Dr. Michael died but it wasn't very long after I left this poem...perhaps I should have not tried to show off my German.
Love
dad, granpa ami
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