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The Ballad of Lager Bier

Edmund Clarence Stedman (1833–1908) · 1860–1897

iambic tetrameter · 168 lines · from The Poetical Works of Edmund Clarence Stedman

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In fallow college days, Tom Harland,We both have known the ways of Yale,And talked of many a nigh and far land,O’er many a famous tap of ale.There still they sing their Gaudeamus,And see the road to glory clear;But taps, that in our day were famous,Have given place to Lager Bier.

Now, settled in this island-city,We let new fashions have their weight;Though none too lucky—more’s the pity!—Can still beguile our humble stateBy finding time to come together,In every season of the year,In sunny, wet, or windy weather,And clink our mugs of Lager Bier.

On winter evenings, cold and blowing,’Tis good to order “’alf-and-’alf”;To watch the fire-lit pewter glowing,And laugh a hearty English laugh;Or even a sip of mountain whiskeyCan raise a hundred phantoms dearOf days when boyish blood was frisky,And no one heard of Lager Bier.

We’ve smoked in summer with Oscanyan,Cross-legged in that defunct bazaar,Until above our heads the banyanOr palm-tree seemed to spread afar;And, then and there, have drunk his sherbet,Tinct with the roses of Cashmere:That Orient calm! who would disturb itWith Norseland calls for Lager Bier?

There’s Paris chocolate,—nothing sweeter,At midnight, when the dying strain,Just warbled by La Favorita,Still hugs the music-haunted brain;Yet of all bibulous compoundings,Extracts or brewings, mixed or clear,The best, in substance and surroundings,For frequent use, is Lager Bier.

Karl Schæffer is a stalwart brewer,Who has above his vaults a hall,Where—fresh-tapped, foaming, cool, and pure—He serves the nectar out to all.Tom Harland, have you any money?Why, then, we’ll leave this hemisphere,This western land of milk and honey,For one that flows with Lager Bier.

Go, flaxen-haired and blue-eyed maiden,My German Hebe! hasten throughYon smoke-cloud, and return thou ladenWith bread and cheese and bier for two.Limburger suits this bearded fellow;His brow is high, his taste severe:But I’m for Schweitzer, mild and yellow,To eat with bread and Lager Bier.

Ah, yes! the Schweitzer hath a savorOf marjoram and mountain thyme,An odoriferous, Alpine flavor;You almost hear the cow-bells chimeWhile eating it, or, dying faintly,The Ranz-des-vaches entrance the ear,Until you feel quite Swiss and saintly,Above your glass of Lager Bier.

Here comes our drink, froth-crowned and sunlit,In goblets with high-curving arms,Drawn from a newly opened runlet,As bier must be, to have its charms.This primal portion each shall swallowAt one draught, for a pioneer;And thus a ritual usage followOf all who honor Lager Bier.

Glass after glass in due succession,Till, borne through midriff, heart, and brain,He mounts his throne and takes possession,—The genial Spirit of the grain!Then comes the old Berserker madnessTo make each man a priest and seer,And, with a Scandinavian gladness,Drink deeper draughts of Lager Bier!

Go, maiden, fill again our glasses!While, with anointed eyes, we scanThe blouse Teutonic lads and lasses,The Saxon—Pruss—Bohemian,The sanded floor, the cross-beamed gables,The ancient Flemish paintings queer,The rusty cup-stains on the tables,The terraced kegs of Lager Bier.

And is it Göttingen, or Gotha,Or Munich’s ancient Wagner Brei,Where each Bavarian drinks his quota,And swings a silver tankard high?Or some ancestral Gast-Haus loftyIn Nuremburg—of famous cheerWhen Hans Sachs lived, and where, so oft, heSang loud the praise of Lager Bier?

For even now some curious glamourHas brought about a misty change!Things look, as in a moonlight dream, orMagician’s mirror, quaint and strange.Some weird, phantasmagoric notionImpels us backward many a year,And far across the northern ocean,To Fatherlands of Lager Bier.

As odd a throng I see before usAs ever haunted Brocken’s height,Carousing, with unearthly chorus,On any wild Walpurgis-night;I see the wondrous art-creations!In proper guise they all appear,And, in their due and several stations,Unite in drinking Lager Bier.

I see in yonder nook a trio:There’s Doctor Faust, and, by his side,Not half so love-distraught as Io,Is gentle Margaret, heaven-eyed;That man in black beyond the waiter—I know him by his fiendish leer—Is Mephistophiles, the traitor!And how he swigs his Lager Bier!

Strange if great Goethe should have blundered,Who says that Margaret slipt and fellIn Anno Domini Sixteen Hundred,Or thereabout; and Faustus,—well,We won’t deplore his resurrection,Since Margaret is with him here,But, under her serene protection,May boldly drink our Lager Bier.

That bare-legged gypsy, small and lithy,Tanned like an olive by the sun,Is little Mignon; sing us, prithee,Kennst du das Land, my pretty one!Ah, no! she shakes her southern tresses,As half in doubt and more in fear;Perhaps the elvish creature guessesWe’ve had too much of Lager Bier.

There moves, full-bodiced, ripe, and human,With merry smiles to all who come,Karl Schæffer’s wife,—the very womanWhom Rubens drew his Venus from!But what a host of tricksome gracesPlay round our fairy Undine here,Who pouts at all the bearded faces,And, laughing, brings the Lager Bier.

“Sit down, nor chase the vision farther,You’re tied to Yankee cities still!”I hear you, but so much the ratherShould Fancy travel where she will.Yet let the dim ideals scatter;One puff, and lo! they disappear;The comet, next, or some such matter,We’ll talk above our Lager Bier.

Now, then, your eyes begin to brighten,And marvellous theories to flow;A philosophic theme you light on,And, spurred and booted, off you go!If e’er—to drive Apollo’s phaeton—I need an earthly charioteer,This tall-browed genius I will wait on,And prime him first with Lager Bier.

But higher yet, in middle Heaven,Your steed seems taking flight, my friend;You read the secret of the Seven,And on through trackless regions wend!Don’t vanish in the Milky Way, forThis afternoon you’re wanted here;Come back! come back! and help me pay forThe bread and cheese and Lager Bier.

Words in this poem 61
bier n.
A handbarrow or portable frame on which a corpse is placed or borne to the grave. [OE. bæe, beere, AS. b, b; akin to D. baar, OHG. bara, G. bahre, Icel barar, Dbaare, L. feretrum, Gr. , from the same bear to produce. See 1st Bear, and cf. Barr]
sunny a.
Of or pertaining to the sun; proceeding from, or resembling the sun; hence, shining; bright; brilliant; radiant.
clink v. t.
To cause to give out a slight, sharp, tinkling, sound, as by striking metallic or other sonorous bodies together. [OE. clinken; akin to G. klingen, D. klinken, SW. klinga, Dan. klinge; prob. of imitative origin. Cf. Clank, Clench, Click, v. i.]
pewter n.
A hard, tough, but easily fusible, alloy, originally consisting of tin with a little lead, but afterwards modified by the addition of copper, antimony, or bismuth. [OE. pewtyr, OF. peutre, peautre, piautre: cf. D. peauter, piauter, It. peltro, Sp. & Pg. peltre, LL. peutreum, pestrum. Cf. Spelter.]
whiskey n.
A light carriage built for rapid motion; -- called also tim- whiskey. [See Whisk, v. t. & n.]
boyish a.
Resembling a boy in a manners or opinions; belonging to a boy; childish; trifling; puerile.
defunct a.
Having finished the course of life; dead; deceased. [L. defunctus, p. p. of defungi to acquit one's self of, to perform, finish, depart, die; de + fungi to perform, discharge: cf. F. défunt. See Function.]
bazaar n.
In the East, an exchange, marketplace, or assemblage of shops where goods are exposed for sale. [Per. bazar market.]
afar adv.
At, to, or from a great distance; far away; -- often used with from preceding, or off following; as, he was seen from afar; I saw him afar off. [Pref. a-.(for on or of) + far.]
tinct n.
Color; tinge; tincture; tint. [See Tint.]
haunted a.
Inhabited by, or subject to the visits of, apparitions; frequented by a ghost.
bibulous a.
Readily imbibing fluids or moisture; spongy; as, bibulous blotting paper. [L. bibulus, fr. bibere to drink. See Bib, v. t.]
stalwart a.
Brave; bold; strong; redoubted; daring; vehement; violent. [OE. stalworth, AS. stælwyrth serviceable, probably originally, good at stealing, or worth stealing or taking, and afterwards extended to other causes of estimat]
brewer n.
One who brews; one whose occupation is to prepare malt liquors.
hebe n.
The goddess of youth, daughter of Jupiter and Juno. She was believed to have the power of restoring youth and beauty to those who had lost them. [L., fr. Gr. "h`bh youth, "H`bh Hebe.]
limburger n.
A soft cheese made in the Belgian province of Limburg (Limbourg), and usually not eaten until the curing has developed a peculiar and, to most people, unpleasant odor.
chime n.
The harmonious sound of bells, or of musical instruments. [OE. chimbe, prop., cymbal, OF. cymbe, cymble, in a dialectic form, chymble, F. cymbale, L. cymbalum, fr. Gr. Cymbal.]
saintly a.
Like a saint; becoming a holy person.
sunlit a.
Lighted by the sun.
runlet n.
A little run or stream; a streamlet; a brook. [Run + -let.]
primal a.
First; primary; original; chief. [LL. primalis, fr. L. primus the first. See Prime, a.]
shall v. i.
To owe; to be under obligation for. [OE. shal, schal, imp. sholde, scholde, AS. scal, sceal, I am obliged, imp. scolde, sceolde, inf. sculan; akin to OS. skulan, pres. skal, imp. skolda, D. zullen,]
pioneer n.
A soldier detailed or employed to form roads, dig trenches, and make bridges, as an army advances. [F. pionier, orig., a foot soldier, OF. peonier, fr. OF. peon a foot soldier, F. pion. See Pawn in chess.]
genial a.
Contributing to, or concerned in, propagation or production; generative; procreative; productive. [L. genialis: cf. OF. genial. See Genius.]
berserker n.
One of a class of legendary heroes, who fought frenzied by intoxicating liquors, and naked, regardless of wounds. [Icel. berserkr.]
scan v. t.
To mount by steps; to go through with step by step. [L. scandere, scansum, to climb, to scan, akin to Skr. skand to spring, leap: cf. F. scander. Cf. Ascend, Descend, Scale a ladder.]
blouse n.
A light, loose over-garment, like a smock frock, worn especially by workingmen in France; also, a loose coat of any material, as the undress uniform coat of the United States army. [F. blouse. Of unknown origin.]
sanded a.
Covered or sprinkled with sand; sandy; barren. Thomson.
beamed a.
Furnished with beams, as the head of a stag.
bavarian a.
Of or pertaining to Bavaria.
quota n.
A proportional part or share; the share or proportion assigned to each in a division. [LL., fr. L. quota (sc. pars), fr.quotus which or what in number, of what number, how many, fr. quot how many, akin to quis, qui, who: cf. It. quota a share. See]
tankard n.
A large drinking vessel, especially one with a cover. [OF. tanquart; cf. OD. tanckaert; of uncertain origin.]
curious a.
Difficult to please or satisfy; solicitous to be correct; careful; scrupulous; nice; exact. [OF. curios, curius, F. curieux, L. curiosus careful, inquisitive, fr. cura care. See Cure.]
glamour n.
A charm affecting the eye, making objects appear different from what they really are. [Scot. glamour, glamer; cf. Icel. glámeggdr one who is troubled with the glaucoma; or Icel. glam-s weakness of sight, glamour; glamr name of the moon, also of a ]
quaint a.
Prudent; wise; hence, crafty; artful; wily. [OE. queint, queynte, coint, prudent, wise, cunning, pretty, odd, OF. cointe cultivated, amiable, agreeable, neat, fr. L. cognitus known, p. p. of cognoscere to ]
phantasmagoric a.
Of or pertaining to phantasmagoria; phantasmagorial. Hawthorne.
carousing a.
That carouses; relating to a carouse.
unearthly a.
Not terrestrial; supernatural; preternatural; hence, weird; appalling; terrific; as, an unearthly sight or sound.
wondrous adv.
In a wonderful or surprising manner or degree; wonderfully. [OE. wonders, adv. (later also adj.). See Wonder, n., and cf. -wards.]
yonder adv.
At a distance, but within view. [OE. yonder, ýonder; cf. OD. ginder, Goth. jaindr there. Yond, adv.]
nook n.
A narrow place formed by an angle in bodies or between bodies; a corner; a recess; a secluded retreat. [OE. nok; cf. Gael. & Ir. niuc.]
trio n.
Three, considered collectively; three in company or acting together; a set of three; three united. [It., fr. L. tres, tria, three: cf. F. trio, from the Italian. See Three.]
fiendish a.
Like a fiend; diabolically wicked or cruel; infernal; malignant; devilish; hellish.
thereabout adv.
Near that place. [The latter spelling is less proper, but more commonly used.]
deplore v. t.
To feel or to express deep and poignant grief for; to bewail; to lament; to mourn; to sorrow over. [L. deplorare; de- + plorare to cry out, wail, lament; prob. akin to pluere to rain, and to E. flow: cf. F. déplorer. Cf. Flow.]
resurrection n.
A rising again; the resumption of vigor. [F. résurrection, L. resurrectio, fr. resurgere, resurrectum, to rise again; pref. re- re- + surgere to rise. See Source.]
boldly adv.
In a bold manner. [AS. bealdlice.]
lithy a.
Easily bent; pliable. Lithy tree (Bot.), a European shrub (Viburnum Lantana); -- so named from its tough and flexible stem. [See Lithe.]
mignon v. t.
To flatter. Danie
prithee interj.
A corruption of pray thee; as, I prithee; generally used without I.
elvish a.
Pertaining to elves; implike; mischievous; weird; also, vacant; absent in demeanor. See Elfish.
undine n.
One of a class of fabled female water spirits who might receive a human soul by intermarrying with a mortal. [G. undine, or F. ondin, ondine, from L. unda a wave, water.]
brighten v. t.
To make bright or brighter; to make to shine; to increase the luster of; to give a brighter hue to.
philosophic a.
Of or pertaining to philosophy; versed in, or imbued with, the principles of philosophy; hence, characterizing a philosopher; rational; wise; temperate; calm; cool. [L. philosophicus: cf. F. philosophique.]
booted a.
Wearing boots, especially boots with long tops, as for riding; as, a booted squire.
phaeton n.
A four-wheeled carriage (with or without a top), open, or having no side pieces, in front of the seat. It is drawn by one or two horses. [F. phaéton a kind of carriage, fr. Phaéthon Phaëthon, the son of Helios. See Phaëthon.]
charioteer n.
One who drives a chariot.
steed n.
A horse, especially a spirited horse for state of war; -- used chiefly in poetry or stately prose. [OE. stede, AS. steda a stud-horse, war horse, fr. stod a stud of breeding steeds; akin to G. stute a mare, Icel. stedda, sto, a stud. *163. See Stud of horses.]
trackless a.
Having no track; marked by no footsteps; untrodden; as, a trackless desert.
wend n.
A large extent of ground; a perambulation; a circuit.
afternoon n.
The part of the day which follows noon, between noon and evening.

Definitions and etymologies from Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913.

About this text

The Ballad of Lager Bier is in the public domain. This text is taken from The poetical works of Edmund Clarence Stedman, Project Gutenberg ebook #70763; the transcription's header, footer and licence were removed and nothing else was changed. You may copy, print and reuse it freely.

Cite as: Edmund Clarence Stedman, The Ballad of Lager Bier, in The Poetical Works of Edmund Clarence Stedman (1860–1897), text of Project Gutenberg ebook #70763, Laurel, https://laurelpoetry.com/poem/stedman-poems/the-ballad-of-lager-bier.html, id L10652.

Form and metre

The Ballad of Lager Bier is 168 lines in 21 stanzas of 8 lines each. The commonest rhyme scheme is ABABCDCD, in 9 of the 21 stanzas; the rest vary or could not be confirmed. The metre is iambic tetrameter, measured from the stress the words themselves fix (confidence 92%). 92% of its stressed syllables fall where the metre puts the beat. The lines average 8.7 syllables. 69 lines end on an unstressed syllable, a feminine ending. 16% of the lines run on without a stop at the line end.

See other poems in iambic tetrameter.

Measured by Laurel's pipeline, not copied from a handbook: how stress and metre are counted, how rhyme is lettered, how a drifted rhyme is found. Where the dictionary cannot confirm a rhyme the letter is withheld, not guessed.

Rhyme words, stanza by stanza

The word that ends each line, lettered by the rhyme it makes; a dash is a line whose rhyme the dictionary could not confirm.

  1. 1 ABABCDCD harlandA · yaleB · landA · aleB · gaudeamusC · clearD · famousC · bierD
  2. 2 ABABCDCD cityA · weightB · pityA · stateB · togetherC · yearD · weatherC · bierD
  3. 3 A-A-BCBC blowingA · alf · glowingA · laugh · whiskeyB · dearC · friskyB · bierC
  4. 4 ABABCBCB oscanyanA · bazaarB · banyanA · afarB · sherbetC · cashmereB · itC · bierB
  5. 5 -A-ABCBC sweeter · strainA · favorita · brainA · compoundingsB · clearC · surroundingsB · bierC
  6. 6 -A-ABCBC brewer · hallA · pure · allA · moneyB · hemisphereC · honeyB · bierC
  7. 7 ABABCDCD maidenA · throughB · ladenA · twoB · fellowC · severeD · yellowC · bierD
  8. 8 ABABCDCD savorA · thymeB · flavorA · chimeB · faintlyC · earD · saintlyC · bierD
  9. 9 -A-ABCBC sunlit · armsA · runlet · charmsA · swallowB · pioneerC · followB · bierC
  10. 10 ABABCDCD successionA · brainB · possessionA · grainB · madnessC · seerD · gladnessC · bierD
  11. 11 ABABCDCD glassesA · scanB · lassesA · bohemianB · gablesC · queerD · tablesC · bierD
  12. 12 ---A-BAB gotha · brei · quota · highA · lofty · cheerB · heA · bierB
  13. 13 -A-ABCBC glamour · changeA · or · strangeA · notionB · yearC · oceanB · bierC
  14. 14 ABABCDCD usA · heightB · chorusA · nightB · creationsC · appearD · stationsC · bierD
  15. 15 -A-ABCBC trio · sideA · io · eyedA · waiterB · leerC · traitorB · bierC
  16. 16 ABABCDCD blunderedA · fellB · hundredA · wellB · resurrectionC · hereD · protectionC · bierD
  17. 17 -A-ABCBC lithy · sunA · prithee · oneA · tressesB · fearC · guessesB · bierC
  18. 18 -A-ABCBC human · comeA · woman · fromA · gracesB · hereC · facesB · bierC
  19. 19 -A-ABCBC farther · stillA · rather · willA · scatterB · disappearC · matterB · bierC
  20. 20 ABAB-CAC brightenA · flowB · onA · goB · phaeton · charioteerC · onA · bierC
  21. 21 ABABCDCD heavenA · friendB · sevenA · wendB · forC · hereD · forC · bierD
Scansion, line by line

Each line with its syllable count and the stresses the words themselves fix: / stressed, ˘ unstressed, · a syllable the word leaves free and the metre decides. Read against iambic tetrameter. How this is done.

LineSyl.Stress
In fallow college days, Tom Harland,9·/·/˘··/˘
We both have known the ways of Yale,8········
And talked of many a nigh and far land,10···/˘·····
O’er many a famous tap of ale.9·/˘·/˘···
There still they sing their Gaudeamus,8········
And see the road to glory clear;8·····/˘·
But taps, that in our day were famous,10····/˘··/˘
Have given place to Lager Bier.8·/˘··/˘·
Now, settled in this island-city,10·/˘˘··/˘/˘
We let new fashions have their weight;8···/˘···
Though none too lucky—more’s the pity!—10···/˘/··/˘
Can still beguile our humble state9··˘//˘/˘·
By finding time to come together,9·/˘···˘/˘
In every season of the year,9·/˘˘/˘···
In sunny, wet, or windy weather,9·/˘··/˘/˘
And clink our mugs of Lager Bier.9··/˘··/˘·
On winter evenings, cold and blowing,9·/˘/˘··/˘
’Tis good to order “’alf-and-’alf”;8···/˘···
To watch the fire-lit pewter glowing,10···/˘·/˘/˘
And laugh a hearty English laugh;8···/˘/˘·
Or even a sip of mountain whiskey10·/˘···/˘/˘
Can raise a hundred phantoms dear9···/˘˘/˘·
Of days when boyish blood was frisky,9···/˘··/˘
And no one heard of Lager Bier.8·····/˘·
We’ve smoked in summer with Oscanyan,10··˘·/˘····
Cross-legged in that defunct bazaar,10·/˘˘··˘/˘/
Until above our heads the banyan10····/˘··/˘
Or palm-tree seemed to spread afar;9····˘··˘/
And, then and there, have drunk his sherbet,9·······/˘
Tinct with the roses of Cashmere:8···/˘·/˘
That Orient calm! who would disturb it10·/˘····˘/·
With Norseland calls for Lager Bier?9······/˘·
There’s Paris chocolate,—nothing sweeter,9·/˘/˘/˘/˘
At midnight, when the dying strain,8·/···/˘·
Just warbled by La Favorita,10·/˘˘······
Still hugs the music-haunted brain;8···/˘/˘·
Yet of all bibulous compoundings,9···/˘˘˘/˘
Extracts or brewings, mixed or clear,9˘/·/˘·˘··
The best, in substance and surroundings,9···/˘·˘/˘
For frequent use, is Lager Bier.8·/˘··/˘·
Karl Schæffer is a stalwart brewer,9·····/˘/˘
Who has above his vaults a hall,8········
Where—fresh-tapped, foaming, cool, and pure—9···˘/˘···
He serves the nectar out to all.8···/˘···
Tom Harland, have you any money?9·/˘··/˘/˘
Why, then, we’ll leave this hemisphere,8·····/˘·
This western land of milk and honey,9·/˘····/˘
For one that flows with Lager Bier.8·····/˘·
Go, flaxen-haired and blue-eyed maiden,10·/˘·˘···/˘
My German Hebe! hasten through7·/˘·/˘·
Yon smoke-cloud, and return thou laden9····˘/·/˘
With bread and cheese and bier for two.8········
Limburger suits this bearded fellow;9·····/˘/˘
His brow is high, his taste severe:8······˘/
But I’m for Schweitzer, mild and yellow,9···/˘··/˘
To eat with bread and Lager Bier.8·····/˘·
Ah, yes! the Schweitzer hath a savor9···/˘··/˘
Of marjoram and mountain thyme,8·/˘˘·/˘·
An odoriferous, Alpine flavor;10······/·/˘
You almost hear the cow-bells chime8·/······
While eating it, or, dying faintly,9·/˘··/˘/˘
The Ranz-des-vaches entrance the ear,9·····/˘··
Until you feel quite Swiss and saintly,9·······/˘
Above your glass of Lager Bier.8·····/˘·
Here comes our drink, froth-crowned and sunlit,10··/˘····/·
In goblets with high-curving arms,8·/˘··/˘·
Drawn from a newly opened runlet,10···/˘/˘˘/˘
As bier must be, to have its charms.8········
This primal portion each shall swallow9·/˘/˘··/˘
At one draught, for a pioneer;8······˘/
And thus a ritual usage follow10···/˘˘/˘/˘
Of all who honor Lager Bier.8···/˘/˘·
Glass after glass in due succession,9······˘/˘
Till, borne through midriff, heart, and brain,8···/˘···
He mounts his throne and takes possession,—9······˘/˘
The genial Spirit of the grain!8·/˘/˘···
Then comes the old Berserker madness9·······/˘
To make each man a priest and seer,8········
And, with a Scandinavian gladness,10····˘/˘˘/˘
Drink deeper draughts of Lager Bier!8·/˘··/˘·
Go, maiden, fill again our glasses!10·/˘·˘//˘/˘
While, with anointed eyes, we scan8··˘/˘···
The blouse Teutonic lads and lasses,9··˘/˘··/˘
The Saxon—Pruss—Bohemian,8·/˘·˘/˘˘
The sanded floor, the cross-beamed gables,10·/˘····˘/˘
The ancient Flemish paintings queer,8·/˘/˘/˘·
The rusty cup-stains on the tables,9·/˘····/˘
The terraced kegs of Lager Bier.9·/˘˘··/˘·
And is it Göttingen, or Gotha,9·········
Or Munich’s ancient Wagner Brei,8·/˘/˘/˘·
Where each Bavarian drinks his quota,10··˘/˘˘··/˘
And swings a silver tankard high?8···/˘/˘·
Or some ancestral Gast-Haus lofty9··˘/˘··/˘
In Nuremburg—of famous cheer8·····/˘·
When Hans Sachs lived, and where, so oft, he10····˘·····
Sang loud the praise of Lager Bier?8·····/˘·
For even now some curious glamour10·/˘··/˘˘/˘
Has brought about a misty change!8·····/˘·
Things look, as in a moonlight dream, or9·····/···
Magician’s mirror, quaint and strange.8˘/˘/˘···
Some weird, phantasmagoric notion6····/˘
Impels us backward many a year,9˘/·/˘/˘··
And far across the northern ocean,9··˘/·/˘/˘
To Fatherlands of Lager Bier.8·/˘··/˘·
As odd a throng I see before us9·········
As ever haunted Brocken’s height,8·/˘/˘···
Carousing, with unearthly chorus,9˘/˘·˘/˘/˘
On any wild Walpurgis-night;8·/˘·····
I see the wondrous art-creations!9···/˘·˘/˘
In proper guise they all appear,8·/˘···˘/
And, in their due and several stations,9·····/˘/˘
Unite in drinking Lager Bier.8/··/˘/˘·
I see in yonder nook a trio:9···/˘··/·
There’s Doctor Faust, and, by his side,8·/˘·····
Not half so love-distraught as Io,9····˘/·/˘
Is gentle Margaret, heaven-eyed;9·/˘/˘˘/˘·
That man in black beyond the waiter—9·······/˘
I know him by his fiendish leer—8·····/˘·
Is Mephistophiles, the traitor!8······/˘
And how he swigs his Lager Bier!8·····/˘·
Strange if great Goethe should have blundered,9······/˘˘
Who says that Margaret slipt and fell9···/˘˘···
In Anno Domini Sixteen Hundred,10·/˘/˘˘˘//˘
Or thereabout; and Faustus,—well,8·····/˘·
We won’t deplore his resurrection,9··˘/··˘/˘
Since Margaret is with him here,8·/˘˘····
But, under her serene protection,9····˘/˘/˘
May boldly drink our Lager Bier.9·/˘·/˘/˘·
That bare-legged gypsy, small and lithy,10··/˘/˘··/˘
Tanned like an olive by the sun,9·˘··/˘···
Is little Mignon; sing us, prithee,9·/˘/˘··/˘
Kennst du das Land, my pretty one!8·····/˘·
Ah, no! she shakes her southern tresses,9·····/˘/˘
As half in doubt and more in fear;8········
Perhaps the elvish creature guesses9˘/·/˘/˘/˘
We’ve had too much of Lager Bier.8·····/˘·
There moves, full-bodiced, ripe, and human,10···/˘˘··/˘
With merry smiles to all who come,8·/˘·····
Karl Schæffer’s wife,—the very woman9·····/˘/˘
Whom Rubens drew his Venus from!8·/˘··/˘·
But what a host of tricksome graces9·······/˘
Play round our fairy Undine here,9··/˘/˘/··
Who pouts at all the bearded faces,9·····/˘/˘
And, laughing, brings the Lager Bier.8·/˘··/˘·
“Sit down, nor chase the vision farther,9·····/˘/˘
You’re tied to Yankee cities still!”8···/˘/˘·
I hear you, but so much the rather9·······/˘
Should Fancy travel where she will.8·/˘/˘···
Yet let the dim ideals scatter;8····˘//˘
One puff, and lo! they disappear;8······˘/
The comet, next, or some such matter,9·/˘····/˘
We’ll talk above our Lager Bier.9····/˘/˘·
Now, then, your eyes begin to brighten,9····˘/·/˘
And marvellous theories to flow;8····/˘··
A philosophic theme you light on,9··˘/˘····
And, spurred and booted, off you go!9··˘·/˘···
If e’er—to drive Apollo’s phaeton—9····˘/˘··
I need an earthly charioteer,8···/˘···
This tall-browed genius I will wait on,10···˘/˘····
And prime him first with Lager Bier.8·····/˘·
But higher yet, in middle Heaven,9·/˘··/˘/˘
Your steed seems taking flight, my friend;8···/˘···
You read the secret of the Seven,9···/˘··/˘
And on through trackless regions wend!8···/˘/˘·
Don’t vanish in the Milky Way, for9·/˘··/˘··
This afternoon you’re wanted here;8··˘/·/˘·
Come back! come back! and help me pay for9·········
The bread and cheese and Lager Bier.8·····/˘·

The reader shows the same poem with its rhymes coloured and a stress row above each line, the notes beside their stanzas, and any word's definition on a tap; the analysis page takes the whole book apart. How every part of this site was made.

More by Edmund Clarence Stedman

The Poetical Works of Edmund Clarence Stedman