Myn Libben - in Gewear op Skerp -
Toarke om - oant op in Dei
De Eigner lânskaam - My wer fûn -
En meinaam - dêrsa wei -
No swalkje Wy troch Hearlik Wâld -
Bin’ Wy op Hertejacht -
En hieltyd as Ik foar Him sprek
Anderet it Berchte op slach -
En glimkje Ik, dan glydt oer ’t Dal
In gloed fan heilsum ljocht -
As brekt op in Fesuviaansk
Gesicht de wille troch -
En Nachts - nei dien Wurk - hoedzje Ik
De Holle fan Myn Baas -
Dat ’s better as tegearre op
In Pel fan Eiderdûns -
Syn fijân - is Myn deadsfijân -
Gjinien ferweecht opnij -
Op wa’t Myn Giel Each fallen is -
Of swier Myn Tomme leit -
Faaks libje Ik noch nei Him - mar Hy
Moat troch - nei Myn bestean -
Want Ik haw mar ta deadzjen macht,
Gjin macht - om dea te gean -
My Life had stood - a Loaded Gun -
In Corners - till a Day
The Owner passed - identified -
And carried Me away -
And now We roam in Sovreign Woods -
And now We hunt the Doe -
And every time I speak for Him
The Mountains straight reply -
And do I smile, such cordial light
Opon the Valley glow -
It is as a Vesuvian face
Had let it’s pleasure through -
And when at Night - Our good Day done -
I guard My Master’s Head -
’Tis better than the Eider-Duck’s
Deep Pillow - to have shared -
To foe of His - I’m deadly foe -
None stir the second time -
On whom I lay a Yellow Eye -
Or an emphatic Thumb -
Though I than He - may longer live
He longer must - than I -
For I have but the power to kill,
Without - the power to die -
F764 (J754). Ofbyldings: Houghton Library, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA.