De skepiiskeizer
Rop de bolknakrôler,
Dy poatige, en hjit him kwakken
Gleie kwark te klopjen yn mokken.
Lit de lodskes dangelje yn de klean
Dy’t se altyd al drage en lit de feinten
Blommen bringe yn kranten mei âld nijs.
Bring mei wêze skine tenein.
De skepiiskeizer is de iennichste soeverein.
Krij út it grenen dressoir
Dat de trije glêzen knoppen mist, de doek
Dêr’t sy ea pausturten op stikt hat
En drapearje dy oer har gesicht.
Stekke har ilige fuotten út, dan om
Te toanen hoe kâld se is, en stom.
Lit lampljocht ta yn dit domein.
De skepiiskeizer is de iennichste soeverein.
The Emperor of Ice-Cream
Call the roller of big cigars,
The muscular one, and bid him whip
In kitchen cups concupiscent curds.
Let the wenches dawdle in such dress
As they are used to wear, and let the boys
Bring flowers in last month’s newspapers.
Let be be finale of seem.
The only emperor is the emperor of ice-cream.
Take from the dresser of deal,
Lacking the three glass knobs, that sheet
On which she embroidered fantails once
And spread it so as to cover her face.
If her horny feet protrude, they come
To show how cold she is, and dumb.
Let the lamp affix its beam.
The only emperor is the emperor of ice-cream.
Ut Harmonium, 1923
