Wee Willie Winkel
Running through the town
Fell into a manhole
And got drowned.
Said the mayor,
Herr Schweitzer,
'Serves him
Right, sir! '
'Why should a little boy
Run through the town,
Wearing nothing
But a flimsy nightgown?
'Window tapping,
Keyhole peeping,
Disturbing innocent
Children sleeping?
'Willie was warned
Not to run through the street,
Or break into homes
(He ran on bare feet) ,
'But did he listen?
No, never at all!
A deckel was stolen,
And he had a great fall.
'The children sleep
At eight o'clock,
Wake up at five
And go for a walk.
'Some prefer a morning run
Before the sun
Brings light and heat.
Everyone is on their feet.
'Things are better
Without noises at night
Disturbing the peace.
Life is all right.
'Ever since Winkel
Went to his grave
The children have learnt
How to behave.'
NOTE:
Deckel: cover or lid of a manhold. The complete word is SchachtDeckel (manhole cover) .
Written from a German perspective.
A dig at Germans' lack of humour and love for order.
A picture of a German manhole cover may be seen at http: //www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/german-squirrel-rescued-from-manhole-cover-dies-a-848536.html
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