Die Forelle (und Ich)

Die Forelle

In einem Bächlein helle,
Da schoss in froher Eil'
Die launische Forelle
Vorueber wie ein Pfeil.
Ich stand an dem Gestade
Und sah in süsser Ruh'
Des muntern Fishleins Bade
Im klaren Bächlein zu.

Des muntern Fishleins Bade
Im klaren Bächlein zu.

Ein Fischer mit der Rute
Wohl an dem Ufer stand,
Und sah's mit kaltem Blute
Wie sich das Fischlein wand.
So lang dem Wasser helle
So dacht' ich, nicht gebricht,
So fängt er die Forelle
Mit seiner Angel nicht.

So fängt er die Forelle
Mit seiner Angel nicht.

Doch endlich ward dem Diebe
Die Zeit zu lang.
Er macht das Bächlein tückisch trübe,
Und eh' ich es gedacht
So zuckte seine Rute
Das Fischlein, das Fischlein zappelt dran,
Und ich mit regem Blute
Sah die Betrog'ne an

Und ich mit regem Blute
Sah die Betrog'ne an.

~\:/~

The Trout

I was standing at the edge

Of a clear little brook

Wasting time

Because I am unemployed

(And my wife just left me for being an utter loser, but that is neither here nor there).

There are trout in the river

Dashing about everywhere

Like arrows

That do not interrupt my sweet peace

Of doing absolutely nothing with my day

But watching fish.

Then I saw a fisherman

Who came with his gear

To stand on the bank

He was also watching the fish weave about

But he did, in fact, have a job

Which was to do what I was doing

Except that he was getting paid.

I was very tickled at the thought

That he wouldn't actually catch any fish

Because the water was so clear

And ha-ha on him

And his job.

Finally,

The no-goodnik with the actual job

Seemed to be getting impatient

For some reason, you'd almost think he didn't have all day to loaf

And he made the brook murky

And before I knew it

His line twitched

Because one of the poor little trout had swallowed it

And I became extremely angry

At the fisherman

For doing his actual job

And snaring that innocent betrayed fish

And frankly

To be doing his actual job in the first place.