Tuesday 22 November 2011

Maybe the best-known Swedish poem!
C.M. Bellman's 'Gubben Noach'


            No. 35

            Old boy Noah ://:
            was a decent man.
            Once the ark had grounded
            in the fields he founded
lots of vineyards, lots of vineyards:
            Noah had a plan.

            Noah rowed out://:
            from his ancient ark,
            bottles he bought plenty,
            maybe more than twenty,
meant for drinking, meant for drinking
            in our green new park.

            He ne’er doubted ://:
            that all humans are
            by their nature thirsty
            like the beasts, so first he
planted vines, yes, planted vines, yes,
            growing near and far.

            Old girl Noah ://:
            was a decent wife;
            she let him drink early,
            if I’d such a girlie,
I’d get married, I’d get married,
            ere you could say knife.

            She ne’er scolded ://:
            Oh, you naughty man,
            put that pitcher down then,
            No, she didn’t frown when
at one draught he, at one draught he
            quaffed wine by the can.

            Old boy Noah ://:
            Had hair thick as thatch,
            chubby chins and goatee,
            cheeks so pink and rosy;
he could down it, he could down it,
            Cheers and down the hatch!

            Times were good then ://:
            on our earth so fair;
            food and drink ne’er lacking,
            no parched throats a-cracking,
all sat glaring, all sat glaring
            at a spread so rare.

            Formal toasting ://:
            people gave a miss;
            no one said at leisure:
            May I have the pleasure!
No, you drank it, no, you drank it
            at one go – like this!
 

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