Drei Paar un Eens / Three Pairs and One
This short poem was written by Ernest G. Gehman (1901–1988), a native Pennsylvania Dutch–speaking Mennonite who was born and raised in Bally, Berks County, PA, was ordained a Mennonite minister, and taught German from 1924 to 1973 at Eastern Mennonite College (today, Eastern Mennonite University) in Harrisonburg, VA. It expresses the traditional Anabaptist and Pennsylvania Dutch value of humility. People should listen more than they speak, observe more than they talk about, and expend more effort in work than in self-indulgence.
This recording is part of a collection of Gehman materials held by the Sadie Hartzler Libary at EMU.
Ich will saage dass ich un der Fritz Rickert des gschriwwe hen.
Du hoscht zwee Ohre awwer yuscht ee Maul;Deetscht’s gaern beglaage?Recht viel sollscht du heereAwwer wennich druff saage.
Du hoscht zwee Aage awwer yuscht ee Maul;Dutt des dich retze?Du darfscht wohl viel sehneAwwer net so viel driwwer schwetze.
Du hoscht zwee Hend awwer yuscht ee Maul;Duh’s net vergesse.Mit zwee sollscht du schaffeAwwer yuscht mit een esse.
Noh net zu viel.
Viel deitsche Leit sin addlich fett. Sie duhn en latt esse.
Un sie wisse wie zu koche.
I’d like to say that Fritz Rickert and I wrote this.
You have two ears but just one mouth;Would you want to complain about that?You should listen muchBut say little after it.
You have two hands but just one mouth;Does that bug you?You may well see a lotBut not say so much about it.
You have two hands but just one mouth;Don’t forget that.With two you should workBut eat with just one.
And then not too much.
Many PA Dutch people are quite fat. They eat a lot.
And they know how to cook.