The following poem was written by my aunt Lola in Miami, Florida. She is a decorated and prolific writer. Upon hearing that I had a new website that captured local language in the US, she was suddenly inspired to write a poem that captures the "pochismo" Spanglish that she hears on a daily basis in Miami. So, here it is. It's a fun adaptation from a Dr. Seuss classic. Enjoy.
Roy Yo Soy
By: Dolores Sendler
(Adapted from GREEN EGGS AND HAM – By: Dr. Seuss)
I am Sam
Sam I am.
Y yo soy Roy
Roy yo soy.
That Roy-yo-soy.
That Roy-yo-soy.
I do not like that Roy-yo-soy.
Do you like bistec con pan?
Do you like it Roy-yo-soy?
I do not like bistec con pan
I do not like it Sam-I-am.
Do you like it aquí o ahí?
Do you like it with ají?
No me gusta aquí o ahí
I do not like it with ají.
I do not like bistec con pan
I do not like it Sam-I-am.
Do you like it with mostaza?
¿En tu casa?
¿Con mi raza?
No me gusta con mostaza.
Ni con ají ni con mi raza.
I do not like bistec con pan!
No me gusta Sam-I-am!
Would you like it in a plato?
With a dog or with a gato?
Not in a plato.
Not with a gato.
Not with a dog.
Not with a hog.
I would not like it with mostaza.
In my house or in your casa.
I would not like it here or there
I would not like it anywhere!
I do not like bistec con pan!
No me gusta Sam-I-am!
Would you? Could you?
En el Cayo?
On a donkey or a caballo?
I will not, could not,
en el Cayo.
On a burro.
Or a caballo!
You may like it
in the sea.
You may like it
in a tree.
Not in the sea.
Not in a tree.
Not in the ocean! You let me be!
No me gusta en el Cayo.
No me gusta a caballo.
I do not like it with maduros.
Or those awful Cuban puros.
I do not like it with a toy,
That they’re calling Roy-yo-soy!
!Yo soy Roy! Not that toy!
I do not like bistec con pan!
I do not like it, Sam-I-am!
!La guagua! !La guagua!
Could you on the Monorail?
Not on la guaga!
Not on the rail!
Not on la micro!
Not on the trail!
Sam let me be!
I would not, could not en el tren.
I could not, would not with a friend.
I will not eat it in a plato.
With a dog or with a gato.
I do not like it en el Cayo.
With a perro or a caballo.
I do not like it on a burro.
With frijoles con maduros.
I do not like it with bizcocho.
In Southwest or Calle Ocho.
I do not like bistec con pan!
I do not like it Sam-I-am!
Say!
At the mall?
At Dadeland Mall!
Would you, could you at the mall?
I would not, could not,
At the mall.
Would you, could you with a ball?
I would not, could not with a ball.
Not at the mall! Not in a train!
Not with a gato! Not in the rain!
I do not like it at the beach.
With a mango or with a peach.
I do not like it with maduros.
With frijoles or with puros.
Not with tostones! Not in a house!
Not with condones! Not with a mouse!
I will not eat it con el gato.
With refritos on a plato.
Not at Viscaya.
Not at the playa.
Not with coffee or cortaditos.
Caja China or with mojitos.
I will not eat it here or there.
I will not eat it anywhere!
You do not like bistec con pan?
¡No me gusta Sam-I-am!
Would you, could you,
con un flan?
I would not, could not,
with a flan!
Could you, would you,
in Hialeah?
Would you, maybe,
in Key Biscayne?
I would not,
could not,
in Hialeah.
I would not,
in Key Biscayne!
That’s insane!
Key Biscayne is our bahía!
It’s a terrible idea!
I could not, would not, with a mouse.
In a condo or in a house.
I will not, will not, a caballo.
In Key West or in Key Largo.
I will not eat it with maduros.
With cigars they’re calling puros.
I will not eat it on a plato.
Wih the dog or with el gato.
Not with mojitos! Not cafecitos!
Not with salsita! Not cortaditos!
I do not like it with bizcocho.
At the mall on Calle Ocho!
I do not like it with mondonga.
Cha-cha-chá, mambo, or conga.
I do not like it with Katrina,
She destroyed our Caja China.
I do not like it here or there.
I do no like it ANYWHERE!
I do not like bistec con pan!
¡No me gusta Sam-I-am!
You do not like it?
So you say.
!Pruébalo!
Taste it!
And you may.
Try it hoy,
Roy-yo soy.
Try it today!
I say.
Try it!
And you may.
If you will let me be,
I will try it.
You will see……
Say!
!Caramba!
I like bistec con pan!
And I like it with maduros.
With tostones and with flan!
And I would eat it in a boat,
And I would eat it with a goat.
And I will eat it in the rain.
On the guagua or on the train.
And in the dark. At Bayside Park.
And on the bridge or in the bay.
I will eat it every day!
And I will eat it at the games.
With tormenta and hurricanes.
I will eat them with potatoes.
With ajiaco and with tomatoes.
At Metrozoo in Metromover.
I will eat it on a scooter.
Chimichurri I will favor.
To replace that ketchup flavor!
Miami Beach! The lower Keys!
No more sipping spot-of tea!
It is so good, so good you see.
So I will eat it with sambuca.
Mojo Criollo, arroz and yucca.
And I will eat it in a plato.
With my perro and my gato.
At the playa! At Viscaya!
And I will eat it in a house.
And I will eat it with a mouse.
And I will eat it here and there.
!Vaya! I will eat it ANYWHERE!
I do so like
!Bistec con pan!
¡Gracias!
¡Gracias!
Sam-I-am!
Dolores C. Sendler - Miami, Florida
4 comments:
Hahaha! Please tell your aunt that I enjoyed her poem very much!
Thanks! I am forwarding word to her as we speak :)
Hello my name is Gabriel Otero, and I think that your Aunt may be my old Drama teacher from elementary school. I went to R.R. Moton Elementary school in Miami,Fl and I have always wished to see or talk her for a long time now....... If your aunt is the person I'm looking for, I'd be delighted if you can help me out. You can reach me at goter003@fiu.edu ........ Thanks!
Gabriel, I have forwarded your comment to my aunt. I'm sure she'll also be delighted by a chance to connect with a former student. Thanks for reaching out!
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