The Took the Umlaut Out
Of my family name.
One day,
150 years ago.
In a Castle Garden
where Jenny
Lind once sang
and Lola
Montez once danced.
As my father’s ancestors
filed through
the sandstoned old fort
in high collars and
moustaches, bonnets
and bright eyes,
to a Newer World.
Excised by Officials, who
officiously removed
that front-rounded
vowel and added
an e (for ease,
because it was easier
for American speakers
and typewriters
to master). At least
they left the patronymic
fairly Germanic
on the page, and
in some learned ears
a la Goethe.
But so long for good
to the signature strikes,
the signaling strokes,
Morse Code-like dots
floating over the old
familial letters
this line of emigrating
Goedeckes was willing
to live without; to
say auf wiedersehen
to. Their, our
beloved umlaut.
Colin Goedecke
Morristown, New Jersey
December 2017
