MY TALENTED GRANDMOTHER:
My maternal grandmother, Ella Emma Louise Kolberg Kijak, was a very talented person. Not only was she an excellent wife, mother and grandmother, she was a talented cook and baker, a landlady, a volunteer at her local hospital and at her church, a gardener and exceptional at crafting, sewing and even a poet in 2 languages.
Ella Kolberg Kijak with her flowers:
My grandmother was very loyal to her church, Trinity Lutheran in St. Joseph, Michigan. She took part in many of the organizations and activities there. One of her activities was as a member of the Ladies Aid Society.
On more than one occasion, over the years, the Ladies Aid would present a little skit to the members as the entertainment for that month. My grandmother came up with a unique presentation multiple times for this group.
She found a men's tuxedo at a rummage sale and she would put on the tuxedo and recite the following poem to the delight of the ladies in the group. She would also do it with a bit of a German dialect which added to the performance.
Here is her poem:
I vill tole you bout dat gal of mine, she looks so neat, she dress so fine, she came from Deutchland on the Rhine, a couple of vks ago.
She crossed de salty vater sea, und come unto America, she left her own dear Germany, because she lofts me so.
Her eyes ver blue like green, she's the sweetest ever seen, und I love that gal completely, und I know she lofts me, too.
So give me your attention, und a couple of facts I'll mention, I vill tell you my intention, ist to stick to her like glue.
She's got such a funny name, but she ist not to blame it's a name dat she got from her vater all da same.
It's Katerina, Wilhelmina, Leibensteina, Magdalena, Dinglingsbender, Hochenbenzenslager vas her name.
Her vater he don't like me, ven I come around he fight me, mit a great big club he strike me, und he hit me on de mouth.
But I love dat gal like life, I vill make dat gal my vife.
Goodness, gracious,ain't it nice, don't you vish dat you vas me, for she ist my whole attraction, I'm as happy as can be!
Over the years, I heard my grandmother recite this poem many times until I was able to memorize it and can do so to this day.
In 1993 when I made a trip to Germany to visit my brother and his family who were stationed there, I remember teaching my 10 year old niece this poem as well.
Memories - carried down from generation to generation!
copyright 2025, Cheryl J. Schulte
2 comments:
OMG, possibly the coolest poem ever!! Ha!!
It really is. She was very clever.
Post a Comment