The Week in ConWatch: Exit to the Right

Astute political analysis from the S-Bahn man with a Wegbier.

Photo by Shobhit Sharma on Unsplash

(English translation and references at bottom)

Nächster Halt
Ostkreuz
Ausstieg rechts

Man
Arbeiter
Ringbahn rider, getting off,
a little drunk, with
Feierabendwegbier in hand -
Schnauze.

‘Ne jute Ankündijung für
Wahlen in Magdeburch, wa?

He says
a little to himself
a little to his friend
a little to the S-Bahn robot voice
a little to me -
      (he spots my grin)

De lachste!
      (doors open)

Ich hab's verstanden
      (step out)
Und nicht nur in Magdeburg.

Ja, det stimmt!
      (a thumbs-up of solidarity)

Postscript:
      parted ways
      he says
      a little to himself
      a little to his friend
      a little to the Teutonic Imaginary
      to which he is resigned -

Aber. Wat denn sonst?

---

Nächster Halt: next stop;

Ostkreuz: a rail interchange in former East Berlin and S-Bahn stop along the Ringbahn that encircles the inner part of Berlin;

Ausstieg rechts: Train announcements include the side to exit from, in this case: “exit to the right”;

Arbeiter: a worker, especially in a working-class context;

Feierabendwegbier: an amalgamation of a “Feierabendbier” (afterwork beer) and a Wegbier (a beer you get on the go);

Schnauze: Contrary to popular and condescending belief, this Berliner archetype is not an asshole, just a bit gruff and sarcastic, which is easy to misinterpret;

… Wahlen in Magdeburch: You could say this about elections in Magdeburg, referring to the city in Saxony-Anhalt, former East Germany, which is one of many AfD strongholds. The spelling here approximates the Berlin dialect;

De lachste: You’re laughing (Berlin dialect);

Ich hab’s verstanden: I got it (as in, I understood what you meant);

Nicht nur in … : Not just in Magdeburg (because the far-right’s reach is nationwide);

Det stimmt: Yep, that’s right (again in Berlin dialect);

Wat sonnst: What else is there (Berlin dialect)