A.E. Housman: XVIII

Såg, wea is da junge sünda, den's in Haundschöhn umazahn
und wås håd a vabrochn, dass de feist a goa so wahn,
am End då kam a söwa si a nu schuidig voa
schau, se bringan eam ins gfengnis, zweng da foab vo seine hoa

'S is a schaund fia ålle menschn, so a hoaschopf wia da sei
jå friara håst d'leit aufghengt, håd ma hoa wia d'seining gsegn
do, aufghengt is nu laung ned gnua, eam d'haut å-ziagn ward's woahr'
so unsågboa und grauslig: de foab vo seine hoa

Mei, wås håda ned ois augstöd, und wås håda ned ois zoid
das a sein schopf vastekad, oda fabit, dass's wås zöd
Do in huat håms eam vom kopf g'schlågn, und iatz siachts a jeda kloa
und se bringan eam vorn kadi, zweng da foab vo seine hoa

iatzt hoasts haumfsträng fia de fingan, und de tretmüh fia de fiass,
und da stoabruch, drin in Ebmsee, obs' draust hoass is oda koid
und waun a gråd moi zeid håd, des kimt nåch da oarbat voa
kauna fluacha, God, dea'n gmåcht håd, zweng da foab vo seine hoa

XVIII

Oh who is that young sinner with the handcuffs on his wrists?
And what has he been after that they groan and shake their fists?
And wherefore is he wearing such a conscience-stricken air?
Oh they're taking him to prison for the colour of his hair.
 
'Tis a shame to human nature, such a head of hair as his;
In the good old time 'twas hanging for the colour that it is;
Though hanging isn't bad enough and flaying would be fair
For the nameless and abominable colour of his hair.
 
Oh a deal of pains he's taken and a pretty price he's paid
To hide his poll or dye it of a mentionable shade;
But they've pulled the beggar's hat off for the world to see and stare,
And they're haling him to justice for the colour of his hair.
 
Now 'tis oakum for his fingers and the treadmill for his feet
And the quarry-gang on Portland in the cold and in the heat,
And between his spells of labour in the time he has to spare
He can curse the God that made him for the colour of his hair.

☝^auffi^☝
☜zruck zua eigaungs-seit☚