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Rin Rin Renacuajo

Rin Rin the tadpole

Rin Rin the tadpole (Spanish: Rin Rin Renacuajo), also known as the tripping tadpole (El renacuajo paseador) (1884) is a stock character created by Colombian poet Rafael Pombo. It is still reprinted in compilations of children stories and nursery rhymes.

History

Rin Rin the tadpole represents the stereotype of the self-assured youth, never listening to his elders. He is depicted in an aristocratic dandy fashion ("With short pants, a stylish necktie, hat with ribbons and a wedding frock coat"). His mother (naturally, a frog) asks him not to leave the house, but he doesn't listen to her. The companions in his adventures are a young mouse ("el Niño Ratico"), and an old lady rat ("Doña Ratona"). They go around, partying and drinking beer. Finally, due to this misconduct, they end tragically, devoured by predators. The mouse and rat were eaten by cats while the frog was devoured by a duck.

Rin Rin is one of the most recognized characters of the Colombian culture, and is commonly used in elementary school textbooks, nursery rhymes and children literature compilations.

La Fábula

El renacuajo paseador

The Tripping Tadpole

de Rafael Pombo

By Rafael Pombo

[1] El hijo de Rana, Rinrín Renacuajo,

The son of Frog, Rinrin Tadpole

salió esta mañana muy tieso y muy majo

Left this morning in good shape and well dressed

con pantalón corto, y corbata a la moda,

With short pants, fashionable tie

sombrero encintado y chupa de boda,

A hat with a ribbon, and a wedding waistcoat.

«¡Muchacho, no salgas!» le grita mama,

"Boy, don't leave!" mom screams,

pero él le hace un gesto y orondo se va

but he makes a gesture and leaves puffed with pride.

[2] Halló en el camino a un ratón vecino,

On the way he met a neighbor mouse

y le dijo: «¡Amigo! venga usted conmigo

Who said, "Friend, come with me.

Visitemos juntos a doña Ratona y

Let's visit Mrs. Mouse together.

habrá francachela y habrá comilona».

There will be a good time and there will be a feast.

[3] A poco llegaron, y avanza Ratón,

They soon arrived, and Mouse goes forward

estirase el cuello, coge el aldabón,

Stretches his neck, and grabs the doorknocker

da dos o tres golpes, preguntan: «¿Quién es?».

He knocks twice or three times, someone asks "Who is it?"

- «Yo, doña Ratona, beso a usted los pies».

"It's me Mrs. Mouse, and I kiss your feet."

[4] «¿Está usted en casa?» - «Sí, señor, si estoy;

"Are you home?" "Yes sir, I am,

y celebro mucho ver a ustedes hoy;

And I am happy to see you today,

estaba en mi oficio, hilando algodón,

I was doing my job, threading cotton,

pero eso no importa; bienvenidos son».

But that doesn't matter, you're welcomed here."

[5] Se hicieron la venia, se dieron la mano,

They greeted each other, that shook hands

y dice Ratico, que es más veterano:

And Little Mouse said, since he is the most veteran

«Mi amigo el de verde rabia de calor,

"My friend, there in green, is dying of heat,

démele cerveza, hágame el favor».

Give him a beer, please."

[6] Y en tanto que el pillo consume la jarra

And while the rascal consumes the jug,

mandó la señora traer la guitarra

The woman sent for the guitar

y a Renacuajito le pide que cante

And asked the Tadpole to sing

versitos alegres, tonada elegante.

Happy verses, elegant tunes.

[7] - «¡Ay!. de mil amores lo hiciera, señora,

"Oh! I would do it with all my heart, ma'am,

pero es imposible darle gusto ahora,

But it's impossible to satisfy you now

que tengo el gaznate más seco que estopa

I have my throat drier than burlap

y me aprieta mucho esta nueva ropa».

And this new clothes is too tight."

[8] - «Lo siento infinito, responde tía Rata,

"I am so sorry," aunt Rat answers,

aflójese un poco chaleco y corbata,

"Loosen your vest and tie a little,

y yo mientras tanto les voy a cantar

And meanwhile I will sing for you

una cancioncita muy particular».

A very particular song."

[9] Mas estando en esta brillante función

While being in this brilliant performance

de baile y cerveza, guitarra y canción,

Of dance and beer, guitar and song,

la gata y sus gatos salvan el umbral,

The cat and her kittens cleared the threshold

y vuélvase aquello el juicio final.

And that turned into the final judgment.

[10] Doña Gata vieja trinchó por la oreja

Old Mrs. Cat carved the ear

al niño Ratico maullándole: «¡Hola!»

Of little boy Mouse meowing, "Hello!"

y los niños gatos a la vieja rata,

And the kitten kids carved the old rat

uno por la pata y otro por la cola.

One did the leg and the other the tail.

[11] Don Renacuajito mirando este asalto

Mr. Tadpole seeing this attack

tomó su sombrero, dio un tremendo salto,

Grabbed his hat, and took a huge leap,

y abriendo la puerta con mano y narices,

And opening the door with his hand and his noses

se fue dando a todos «noches muy felices».

Left giving everyone a "Good night."

[12] Y siguió saltando tan alto y aprisa,

And he continued leaping so high and so fast,

que perdió el sombrero, rasgó la camisa,

He lost his hat, and tore his shirt,

se coló en la boca de un pato tragón

He slipped in the mouth of a glutton duck

y éste se lo embucha de un solo estirón.

And the duck gulped it in one stretch.

[13] Y así concluyeron, uno, dos y tres,

This way it ended, one, two and three

Ratón y Ratona, y el Rana después;

Mouse and Mrs. Mouse, and the Frog later,

los gatos comieron y el pato cenó,

The cats ate, and the duck dined,

¡y mamá Ranita solita quedó!

And dear momma Frog stayed alone.

Videos

El Renacuajo Paseador (Rin Rin Renacuajo)
- DVD Los Cuentos de Rafael Pombo

El Renacuajo Paseador
de Rafael Pombo

Rap de El Renacuajo Paseador
por Angelo, Chuck y Christian

La Moraleja

La moraleja? Obedece a tus padres. Ellos sabes que es lo mejor para ti.

The moral? Obey your parents, they know what's best for you!