Magpie sits on the old church spire,
The goose in the oven roasting;
And he who has his heart’s desire
Has no need for idle boasting.
Come, my dear, let the dancing start
And set the floorboards squealing.
Don’t mock a man with a lovesick heart,
For I myself know that feeling.
Hoist the sail while the wind is fine,
I put my trust in my cruiser.
You take yours and I’ll take mine
And devil take the loser.
Sailing over the surging foam
From Gothenburg to Canton,
He who thinks of his love back home
He need not scowl or rant on.
Birds are singing in the glade,
And fruit trees spreading their flowers.
My thoughts go to my darling maid
And future happy hours.
Sit down here upon the ice,
’Twill keep your head from freezing.
If my angel were not so nice,
I’d find one much more pleasing.
The goose in the oven roasting;
And he who has his heart’s desire
Has no need for idle boasting.
Come, my dear, let the dancing start
And set the floorboards squealing.
Don’t mock a man with a lovesick heart,
For I myself know that feeling.
Hoist the sail while the wind is fine,
I put my trust in my cruiser.
You take yours and I’ll take mine
And devil take the loser.
Sailing over the surging foam
From Gothenburg to Canton,
He who thinks of his love back home
He need not scowl or rant on.
Birds are singing in the glade,
And fruit trees spreading their flowers.
My thoughts go to my darling maid
And future happy hours.
Sit down here upon the ice,
’Twill keep your head from freezing.
If my angel were not so nice,
I’d find one much more pleasing.
Olof von Dalin (1708 - 1763) Sweden
Translated by Alan Crozier
Source: Poems by Olof von Dalin
Thank you for sharing this treasure trove of poetry. I know blogging and even moreso commenting on blogging has somewhat fallen out of the norm, but I deeply appreciate your curation.
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