The works of Thomas Hood Comic and serious: In prose and verse. Edited, with notes, by his son |
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 | The works of Thomas Hood |  |
LOVE LANGUAGE OF A MERRY YOUNG SOLDIER.
“Ach, Gretchen, mein Täubchen.”
O Gretel, my Dove, my heart's Trumpet,
My Cannon, my Big Drum, and also my Musket,
O hear me, my mild little Dove,
In your still little room.
My Cannon, my Big Drum, and also my Musket,
O hear me, my mild little Dove,
In your still little room.
Your portrait, my Gretel, is always on guard,
Is always attentive to Love's parole and watchword;
Your picture is always going the rounds,
My Gretel, I call at every hour!
Is always attentive to Love's parole and watchword;
Your picture is always going the rounds,
My Gretel, I call at every hour!
My heart's knapsack is always full of you;
My looks, they are quartered with you;
And when I bite off the top end of a cartridge,
Then I think that I give you a kiss.
My looks, they are quartered with you;
And when I bite off the top end of a cartridge,
Then I think that I give you a kiss.
You alone are my Word of Command and orders,
Yea, my Right-face, Left-face, Brown Tommy, and wine,
And at the word of command “Shoulder Arms!”
Then I think you say “Take me in your arms.”
Yea, my Right-face, Left-face, Brown Tommy, and wine,
And at the word of command “Shoulder Arms!”
Then I think you say “Take me in your arms.”
Your eyes sparkle like a Battery,
Yea, they wound like Bombs and Grenades;
As black as gunpowder is your hair,
Your hand as white as Parading breeches!
Yea, they wound like Bombs and Grenades;
As black as gunpowder is your hair,
Your hand as white as Parading breeches!
Yes, you are the Match and I am the Cannon;
Have pity, my love, and give quarter,
And give the word of command, “Wheel round
Into my heart's Barrack Yard.”
Have pity, my love, and give quarter,
And give the word of command, “Wheel round
Into my heart's Barrack Yard.”
| The works of Thomas Hood | |