Pauline y la locura de los zorros (Spanish)
R.I.C.
En un pequeño y pintoresco bungalow, en las afueras de la ciudad,
Vive Paulina, nuestra heroína, con cabello de corona plateada.
Ochenta y cinco años y vivaz como siempre, ferozmente independiente,
Le encanta su acogedor jardín y su pavimento, ¡qué espléndido!
Oh, Pauline, Pauline, los zorros hicieron un plan,
Para robarle su quiche y su pastel de pescado, pero es una abuela astuta.
Con trampas, trucos y astucia hizo huir a los zorros,
El jardín de Pauline ahora está libre de zorros, su dominio en la victoria.
Los zorros con sus ojos brillantes, la observaban todas las noches,
Desde debajo de los setos, sobre las vallas, a la pálida luz de la luna.
Temía que algún día le tendieran una emboscada, mientras iba a buscar al cobertizo,
Un pastel casero, un quiche o dos, el pan y el orgullo de su congelador.
Con su jardín trasero tan bien pavimentado, ella miraría con orgullo de nuevo,
Pero esos molestos zorros lo arruinaron con excrementos y masticando.
Así que Pauline ideó un plan astuto: le pagó a un hombre con trampas,
Para atrapar a los bandidos peludos y quizás evitar percances.
Se abrió la trampa, se atrapó al zorro y se lo llevaron muy lejos.
La sonrisa de Pauline era amplia y brillante, había ganado la batalla, ¡oye!
Ahora observa atentamente cualquier nueva invasión,
Pero su jardín está sano y salvo otra vez, una fortaleza de euforia.
Así que brindo por Pauline, valiente y audaz, con el congelador lleno y un corazón de oro.
Su jardín es ahora un lugar tranquilo, donde los zorros no se atreven a mostrar la cara.
Una historia de triunfo, ingenio y poder, de cómo una mujer ganó la pelea,
Contra los zorros de la noche, ¡el jardín de Pauline ahora brilla!
R.I.C.'s Pauline y la locura de los zorros
"Pauline y la locura de los zorros" presents a humorous and heartwarming narrative about Pauline, an elderly woman who defends her garden from a group of persistent foxes. The poem, structured with repetitive refrains and lively imagery, combines themes of independence, resilience, and the struggle for peace in one’s personal space. Through the personification of the foxes and the portrayal of Pauline’s determined character, the poet creates a lighthearted yet empowering story that celebrates ingenuity and the tenacity of an older protagonist.
Structure and Form
The poem is divided into stanzas that alternate between narrative passages and a repeated refrain: “Oh, Pauline, Pauline, los zorros hicieron un plan.” This refrain not only reinforces the foxes' ongoing attempts to outwit Pauline but also gives the poem a rhythm reminiscent of a ballad or folk song, emphasizing its storytelling quality. The repetition also serves to underscore Pauline’s resilience, as each refrain leads into a new account of her cleverness in thwarting the foxes.
Theme of Resilience and Independence
Pauline is introduced as an “heroína” with a “corona plateada,” immediately establishing her as a figure of strength, wisdom, and dignity. At eighty-five, she is “ferozmente independiente,” a phrase that conveys both her physical autonomy and her unyielding spirit. Her battle against the foxes symbolizes a broader fight for control and order in her own life—a struggle for independence that transcends age. Despite the foxes’ persistent schemes, Pauline’s determination to protect her space remains unwavering, symbolizing the resolve that comes with maturity and experience.
Use of Humor and Personification
The poem uses humor to present the foxes not as dangerous or menacing, but as mischievous “bandidos peludos” who scheme to steal Pauline’s quiche and fish pie. This personification adds a playful tone, transforming the foxes into crafty adversaries that nearly mirror human thieves. By presenting the foxes’ actions as a “plan” and describing Pauline’s response as equally cunning, the poet elevates a simple story of animals disturbing a garden to an amusing tale of wits between a clever woman and her would-be invaders.
Humor is also present in the repeated imagery of the foxes “con sus ojos brillantes,” watching Pauline’s every move “a la pálida luz de la luna.” This description adds a touch of suspense but maintains a whimsical tone, suggesting that Pauline’s nighttime intruders are more of an annoyance than a serious threat. The poem thus retains a light-hearted approach to Pauline’s predicament, celebrating her victories with a touch of comedy.
Symbolism of the Garden
Pauline’s garden serves as a symbol of her personal domain, a tranquil and orderly space that she has cultivated and protected. The foxes’ intrusion disrupts this sanctuary, leaving it “arruinado con excrementos y masticando.” By reclaiming her garden through strategic “trampas, trucos y astucia,” Pauline restores a sense of order and peace to her life, reaffirming her control over her environment.
This battle for the garden can be read as a metaphor for asserting agency in the face of life’s unpredictability and potential chaos. For Pauline, the foxes represent external forces that threaten her autonomy and hard-won peace, while her victory is an affirmation of her strength and independence.
Conclusion
"Pauline y la locura de los zorros" is a spirited ode to resilience and resourcefulness. Through playful language, vivid imagery, and rhythmic refrains, the poem portrays Pauline as a figure of quiet heroism, whose victory over the foxes is both literal and symbolic. In her triumph, the poet celebrates the strength, wisdom, and wit that come with age, presenting Pauline as a character who embodies dignity and self-sufficiency. Her success in protecting her garden from the foxes resonates as a broader statement on the value of independence, a theme that enriches this seemingly simple tale of a garden war.
Ultimately, the poem leaves readers with an uplifting message: the ability to defend and find joy in one’s space and life is a timeless power, undiminished by age, and often achieved with a touch of humor and cleverness.