Rafael Pombo -- Modelo Alfabético
About a year ago, I introduced you to Colombia's Dr. Seuss. His name is Rafael Pombo. Pombo wrote a number of poems that he hoped would teach children to be wise. This poem is my favorite. It is called Modelo Alfabetico (Model Alphabet). In this poem, Pombo tells his son the attributes he feels will make an honorable man. It happens to be my favorite Pombo poem. I love the message he was trying to convey. I have included an English translation, so many of you can fall in love with it too! :)
¿Quieres ser hombre completo,
Do you want to be a complete man
hombre a prueba de alfabeto?
a alphabet proof man?
Sé Amable, Activo, Aseado,
Be friendly, active, well-groomed
Bondadoso y Bienhablado,
kind and well-spoken
Claro, más cauto en Confianzas,
Clear, but cautious in extending trust,
sordo a Chismes, parco en Chanzas,
deaf to gossip, a frugal jokester,
libre en Digna Dependencia
free in worthy dependence
del Deber y la Conciencia;
of responsiblity and conscience
Experto en algo Especial,
Expert in something special
Franco, Fiel, Firme, Formal,
Frank, faithful, firm, formal
Grato, Generoso, Humano,
Pleasant, generous, humane
buen Hijo, esposo y Hermano,
A good son, husband and brother
ejemplo a la Ingenua Infancia;
an example of pure-hearted childhood
Justo, Jovial, sin Jactancia;
Just, jovial, without boasting
Gentil en serios hechizos,
Charming in serious situations
No en modas, polkas y rizos;
Not into fashion, polkas or curls. (The 'bad' trends of the day)
Leal a la Ley, Laborioso,
Loyal to the law, hardworking,
Modesto, no Malicioso,
Modest, not mean
Natural, Noble en tu modo;
Natural, noble in your own way
con Orden y Objeto en todo;
with order and purpose in everything;
Paciente y Perseverante
Patient and persistent
La Prenda del triunfante;
The rewarder of the winner (don't be a sore loser)
Patriota, Puro y Pacífico;
Patriotic, Pure, and Peaceful;
Puntual, no en Parla Prolífico
Punctual, not prolific in words
ni Quijote o Quejumbroso.
Not a Quijote (implies not a hero in your own eyes) or a whiner
Se Realmente Religioso
Be truly religious
Sin Superstición Salvaje;
and without wild superstitions
Sobrio en juicio, en boca, en traje;
Sober (or modest) in judgement, in utterance, in dress;
Servicial, muy Tolerante,
Helpful, and very tolerant
Útil, Veráz, Vigilante,
Useful, truthful, and vigilant
Valiente, no Vengativo,
Valient, not vengeful,
ni un Yoista repulsivo.
not self-centered repulsive person
Sé exácto como un reloj.
Be as exact as a watch.
Nunca Zángano, ni Zafio;
Never lazy nor uncouth.
Sé otro Washington, si hay dos;
Be another Washington, if there can be two;
y haz que diga tu epitafio:
And make it so that on your epitaph it reads:
Honró a Padres, Patria y Dios.
He honored his parents, his country and his God.
Recently, Carlos Vives put this amazing poem to music. SUPER COOL!!!! I'll talk more about the CD tomorrow. Here is a preview.
¿Quieres ser hombre completo,
Do you want to be a complete man
hombre a prueba de alfabeto?
a alphabet proof man?
Sé Amable, Activo, Aseado,
Be friendly, active, well-groomed
Bondadoso y Bienhablado,
kind and well-spoken
Claro, más cauto en Confianzas,
Clear, but cautious in extending trust,
sordo a Chismes, parco en Chanzas,
deaf to gossip, a frugal jokester,
libre en Digna Dependencia
free in worthy dependence
del Deber y la Conciencia;
of responsiblity and conscience
Experto en algo Especial,
Expert in something special
Franco, Fiel, Firme, Formal,
Frank, faithful, firm, formal
Grato, Generoso, Humano,
Pleasant, generous, humane
buen Hijo, esposo y Hermano,
A good son, husband and brother
ejemplo a la Ingenua Infancia;
an example of pure-hearted childhood
Justo, Jovial, sin Jactancia;
Just, jovial, without boasting
Gentil en serios hechizos,
Charming in serious situations
No en modas, polkas y rizos;
Not into fashion, polkas or curls. (The 'bad' trends of the day)
Leal a la Ley, Laborioso,
Loyal to the law, hardworking,
Modesto, no Malicioso,
Modest, not mean
Natural, Noble en tu modo;
Natural, noble in your own way
con Orden y Objeto en todo;
with order and purpose in everything;
Paciente y Perseverante
Patient and persistent
La Prenda del triunfante;
The rewarder of the winner (don't be a sore loser)
Patriota, Puro y Pacífico;
Patriotic, Pure, and Peaceful;
Puntual, no en Parla Prolífico
Punctual, not prolific in words
ni Quijote o Quejumbroso.
Not a Quijote (implies not a hero in your own eyes) or a whiner
Se Realmente Religioso
Be truly religious
Sin Superstición Salvaje;
and without wild superstitions
Sobrio en juicio, en boca, en traje;
Sober (or modest) in judgement, in utterance, in dress;
Servicial, muy Tolerante,
Helpful, and very tolerant
Útil, Veráz, Vigilante,
Useful, truthful, and vigilant
Valiente, no Vengativo,
Valient, not vengeful,
ni un Yoista repulsivo.
not self-centered repulsive person
Sé exácto como un reloj.
Be as exact as a watch.
Nunca Zángano, ni Zafio;
Never lazy nor uncouth.
Sé otro Washington, si hay dos;
Be another Washington, if there can be two;
y haz que diga tu epitafio:
And make it so that on your epitaph it reads:
Honró a Padres, Patria y Dios.
He honored his parents, his country and his God.
Recently, Carlos Vives put this amazing poem to music. SUPER COOL!!!! I'll talk more about the CD tomorrow. Here is a preview.
Comments
I will be talking about the CD tomorrow. We also love it!!! Each of us has a favorite song -- I like Modelo Alfabetico, my dh loves Dios y el Alma, My 8 year old -- Juan Matachin, and my 5 year old goes back and forth between Simon el Bobito and Pastorcita.