DER YIDDISH-VINKL December 17, 2004
Profound insight into human relationships and destinies sometimes can be revealed in the simple experiences of two childhood friends, as in a poem by Isaac Reingold (1873-1903), written about Shmilik and Gavrilik, that first appeared in the Forverts on May 9, 1897. The transliterated text that follows is taken from the compendium “Mir Trogn a Gezang” compiled by Eleanor Gordon Mlotek. The English version is by Gus Tyler.
Shmilik Gavrilik
Shmilik, Gavrilik, khaveyrimlekh tsvey
Shpiln zikh beyde, keyn glaykhn tsu zey
In ferdlekh mit shverdlekh, in zamd un in erd —
Shmilik der shmayser, Gavrilik der ferd.
Shmilik, Gavrilik,. zey vaksn gikh oys
Kumt zey in zinen: Amerika iz groys
Gekumen tsu shvimen tsu der goldener erd —
Shmilik der shmayser, Gavrilik der ferd.
Shmilik, Gavrilik, in goldenem land
Shmilik a bos, Gavrilik zayn hant
Shmilik in himl, Gavrilik in d’rerd —
Shmilik der shmayser, Gavrilik der ferd.
Shmilik, Gavrilik, keyn fraynd shoyn nit mer
Shmilik a “landlord,” a yakhsn iz er
Gavrilik, zayn shokhn, in “beysment,” in d’rerd
Shmilik blaybt shmayser, Gavrilik blaybt ferd.
English Version
Shmilik, Gavrilik, two childhood good friends were they
They used to play games in their own most inimitable way
A game in the sand about riders and horses they played
With Shmilik the rider and Gavrilik the horse that obeyed.
Shmilik, Gavrilik, they swiftly to manhood did grow
They want to leave home and unto America to go
To do so, an ocean they both had to cross over, of course
But in the new land our Shmilik was rider, Gavrilik the horse.
Shmilik, Gavrilik, at home in the richest of lands
Shmilik’s a boss and Gavrilik’s just one of his hands
Shmilik’s in heaven, Gavrilik’s in Hades, of course
For Shmilik’s the rider, you guessed it, and Gavrilik’s the horse.
Shmilik, Gavrilik, good friends the two are no more
Shmilik’s a landlord so rich that he can’t keep the score
Gavrilik, his tenant, he puts in a basement most coarse
For Shmilik’s the rider, Gavrilik still is the horse.
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