Min Jehann

vun Klaus Groth (1819-1899)

Ik wull, wi weern noch kleen, Jehann,
Do weer de Welt so grot!
Wi seten op den Steen, Jehann,
Weest noch? bi Nawers Sot.
An Heben seil de stille Maan,
Wi segen, wa he leep,
Un snacken, wa de Himmel hoch
Un wa de Sot wul deep.

Weest noch, wa still dat weer, Jehann?
Dar röhr keen Blatt an Bom.
So is dat nu ni mehr, Jehann,
As höchstens noch in Drom.
Och ne, wenn do de Scheper sung
Alleen, int wide Feld:
Ni wahr, Jehann? dat weer en Ton!
De eenzige op de Welt.

Mitünner inne Schummerntid
Denn ward mi so to Mod.
Denn löppt mi't langs den Rügg so hitt,
As domals bi den Sot.
Denn dreih ik mi so hasti um,
As weer ik nich alleen:
Doch allens, wat ik finn, Jehann,
Dat is - ik sta un ween.

My Jehann

by Klaus Groth (1819-1899)

I wish we were still small, Jehann.
How big the world was then!
We'd sit there on that rock, Jehann.
Remember? By Neighbor's well?
The moon sailed gently 'cross the sky.
Our eyes followed its path.
And we talked about the heaven high
And 'bout the drawwell deep.

Remember how still it was, Jehann?
Not a single leaf did stir.
All that has changed meanwhile, Jehann,
Though perhaps not in our dreams.
Oh, boy! When then the shepherd sang
Alone out on the field!
That was some sound, wasn't it, Jehann?
None like it in the world.

Sometimes in the twilight hour
I'm touched by some strange mood.
It'd runnel down my back all hot
As it did then by the well.
Then suddenly I'd turn around
As if someone stood there.
But then I'd realize, Jehann,
All I do is stand and weep.

Miin Jehan

fun Klaus Groth (1819-1899)

Ik wul wii weir'n noch klein, Jehan,
Daar weir de welt soo groot!
Wii seten op den stein, Jehan,
Weist noch? Bii Navers soot.
An d'n heven sail de stille maand.
Wii seigen waar hei leip,
Un snakken wa' de himmel hoog
Un wa' de soot wul deip.

Weist noch wa' stil dat weir, Jehan?
Daar royr kein blad an d'n boum.
Soo is dat nuu ni meir, Jehan,
As hoygsdens noch in d'n droum.
Och nee! Wen daar de scheper sung
Allein, in't wide feld.
Ni waar, Jehan? Dat weir 'n toon!
De eintsige op de welt.

Mit uenner in de schummern-tiid,
Den wardt mii soo tou moud.
Den loept mii't langs d'n rueg soo hit
As daarmaals bii d'n soot.
Den drai ik mii soo hasti um
As weir ik nich allein.
Doch allens wat ik find, Jehan,
Dat is - ik staa un wein.

My Jehann

by Klaus Groth (1819-1899)

I wish we were still small, Jehann.
How big the world was then!
We'd sit there on that rock, Jehann.
Remember? By Neighbor's well?
The moon sailed gently 'cross the sky.
Our eyes followed its path.
And we talked about the heaven high
And 'bout the drawwell deep.

Remember how still it was, Jehann?
Not a single leaf did stir.
All that has changed meanwhile, Jehann,
Though perhaps not in our dreams.
Oh, boy! When then the shepherd sang
Alone in the open field!
That was some sound, wasn't it, Jehann?
None like it in the world.

Sometimes in the twilight hour
I'm touched by some strange mood.
Its runnels down my back all hot
As then down by the well.
Then suddenly I turn around
As if someone stood there.
But all I manage to find, Jehann,
Is that I stand there and weep.