Sing In My Ears 4.26.2009 Poem by Margaret Alice

Read Erich Kästner at school
‘Drei Männer im Schnee’, fell
in love with ‘Schlittschuhlaufen’
(ice-skating) , a lovely tongue-
twister, just as enchanting as
‘Funkelnagelneu’ (brand-new)

I love German dialects, such as
‘Mädle Rück Rück An Meine Grüne
Seite’, a traditional song with a sweet
melody, and I enjoy singing German
‘Quatschlieder’, poking irreverent fun
at everything, such as ‘Kolumbus’
instructed by the Spanish King to
find America

I love repeating nonsensical terms
like Wide-wide-wit-bum-bum and
Tankelie-tankelaai Tannie Stootgaring
as well ma tant tire-lire-lire – it doesn’t
have to mean anything; the words must
simply sing in my ears...


Drei Männer im Schnee..... = Three Men in the Snow

Mädle Rück Rück An Meine
Grüne Seite.......................= Song about young maidens

Quatschlieder................... = German ditties, fun songs

Kolumbus war ein braver
Mann.................................= Columbus was a brave man

Da kam der Spansche König bei ihm an,
Kolumbus sprach er, braver Mann,
entdecke mir Amerika........= The Spanish King arrived and
........................................... asked Columbus to discover
............................................America