Tomás Iriarte y su fábulas oportunas.

En un libro de mi abuela me encontré un papelito celeste...ya teñido por el tiempo, con una fábula que viene muy a pecho en estos tiempos.  Así que decidí transcribirla.  Se llama el Burro Flaustista, y es de Tomás de Iriarte (1750-1791), quien fue un escritor y fabulista español que nació en la Orotava.  Fue un traductor de teatro francés.  Tradujo el arte poética de Horacio. Escribió la comedias la Señorita Malcriada (1788), y el Señorito Mimado en 1790.  Es conocido por sus fábulas literarias; de las que dicen que son de mayor calidad poética que las de Samaniego.  Murió en 1791 en Madrid.

          EL BURRO FLAUTISTA

Cerca de unos prados que hay en el lugar
pasaba un Borrico por  casualidad.

Una flauta en ellos hallo, que un zagal
se dejo olvidada por casualidad.

Acercóse a olerla el dicho animal;
y dió un resoplido por casualidad.

En la flauta el aire se hubo de colar;
Y sonó la flauta, por casualidad.

"Oh ! dijo el Borrico, que bien sé tocar!
Y dirán que es mala la musica asnal."

Sin reglas de arte Borriquitos hay
Que una vez aciertan por casualidad.

Interesante, no?   Hay "sabiondos" o "sobacos ilustrados", como yo les digo, que andan proclamando su sapiencia y  todo lo que los demás digan no tiene valor, a pesar de que muchas veces las otras personas se hayan ilustrado más que ellos.  Si les liga una u otra vez por casualidad....a la larga no podrán ocultar cuán "borriquitos"son.

Y qué me dicen de este otro?  Jaja qué risa me dió y qué a pecho les cae a ciertas personas que viven en este país y que cuando regresan de visita al suyo, fingen haberse olvidado de su idioma madre...aquel con el que aprendieron a decir su primeras palabras.

           LOS LOROS Y LA COTORRA

De Santo Domingo trajo
dos loros una señora.
La isla en parte es francesa,
y en otra parte española.

Así, cada animalito
hablaba distinto idioma.
Pusiéronlos al balcón,
y aquello era Babilonia.

De francés y castellano
hicieron tal pepitoria,
que al cabo ya no sabían
hablar ni una lengua ni otra.

El francés del español
tomó voces, aunque pocas;
el español al francés
casi se las toma todas.

Manda el ama separarlos,
y el francés luego reforma
las palabras que aprendió
de lengua que no es de moda.

El español, al contrario,
no olvida la jerigonza,
y aun discurre que con ella
ilustra su lengua propia.

Llegó a pedir en francés
los garbanzos de la olla,
y desde el balcón de enfrente
una erudita cotorra
la carcajada soltó,
haciendo del loro mofa.

Él respondió solamente,
como por tacha afrentosa:
«Vos no sois más que una PURISTA».
Y ella dijo: «A mucha honra».
¡Vaya, que los loros son
lo mismo que las personas!

Riding Earl

This weekend we had a brush with Earl, a Tropical Storm which passed by us without sorrow or glory.  The hurricane season, which started on June 1st menaces to affect  Long Island and the Big Apple, due to an overheat of the Caribeean an Atlantic waters,  doubling the probability of a hit of this area by the forces of nature.  If the storms should reach a category 3, this could originate winds of 200 kilometers per hour and the possibility of a Tsunami.
A hurricane could be more destructive in NY due to the fact that the wind speed increases in altitudes, which would result in greater damage in the top floors of the buildings. In 1821, the southern part of Manhattan got flooded as a consequence of a Hurricane and this situation could very well happen again.
The last hurricane we had two decades ago, Gloria, with a mere category 2, caused enormous losses which were calculated in 900 million dollars.
That is why the National Weather Service issued alerts so that people in the path of the storm would be prepared in case of emergencies or the need for an evacuation.

Boy!! Was I frightened. Never in my life have I "riden"a hurricane, and I live in this old house with a basement prone to flooding.  I tied all of my lawn chairs and tables to the trees, protected my plants, covered the basement windows with window guards, tried to make a slant of the yard dirt away from the house walls, added extensions to all the gutter spouts.  Inside the house, I picked all my treasures from the basement floor,  filled bottles of water and the bathroom tub and charged all my portable lanterns and flashlights...I also had candles and lighters handy.  I waited until I got bored. Finally I decided to go to the beach, while I thought it was safe, to watch the big waves.

Curious people do that!  The sky was full of black and grey clouds, like the ones in the picture.  The wind was not strong, but the first drops of rain started falling shyly. 

At the beaches there were big signs warning about the dangerous surf.

Rip currents are the leading surf hazard for beachgoers. More than 100 people a year die from rip-current related drownings alone – more than from shark attacks, tornadoes and lightning strikes combined. At least 80 percent of lifeguard rescues are due to rip currents.  These currents flow from the shore line towards the area where the waves break,and are so powerful that they can drag even the more experienced swimmers with them.

I was surprised to see surfers heading towards the big waves and ride them!! Lifeguards were still on call.  People were taking pictures of the tall waves, but people were still being allowed to walk by the seashore.

Enough was enough!  I rode back to my house and watched the Weather Channel. It was almost Friday evening.  The hurricane lost force and shyed away from the coast.  But at least this time we were spared.  I am leaving my lawn chairs tied to the trees, just in case!                                                                          

Mother Theresa's advise

I think that from now on, my philosophy of life is going to be this one! I loved this advise.  It comes in very handy, whenever you have had a terrible day, or when somebody whom you have offered the best of yourself, brushes down your life achievements in less than one second.  It comes in handy, when without being able to understand any reasons, somebody tells you that what you say has no significance and that your mind is like jelly.  It comes in handy when you have tried with all your heart to be honest to yourself and others, and still they still  talk on your back. To this person and others, I tell you...who cares? After all, it is between God and me!!! Thank you, Mother Theresa and thank you Lisi, my sister, for sending it to me.

Mother Theresa's Prayer

Do It Anyway
By Mother Theresa

People are often unreasonable, illogical,
And self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you
Of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some
False friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank;
People may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building,
someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness,
they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today,
people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have,
and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis
it is between you and God
It was never between you and them anyway.

Secret To Success

Hi: this was sent to me by my son Eduardo. This should be one of the first motivations by any student that wants to suceed in life. Don't leave for tomorrow what can be done today!!!!
This is a motivational talk given to Michigan University students by Eric Thomas.