Mira, ver de madrugar y d’alevantarte, primo hecho ke harás: la kara lavarte y dempués andarte a la santa kehilá a demandar piadá, te irás al hecho, te verás provecho. Mancebo te hicites, por tomar esposa , no te engañes de paras ni de facha hermosa: sea venturosa y dulce en el hablar, sea de kasta alta, si es de familia te salva la vida.
Look, you'll see the dawn And you will rise first thing you'll do: wash your face and then go to the holy synagogue to ask for mercy, you'll have a profession you'll see the benefit. You become a young man, to take a wife, don't be deceived by her looks or her beautiful appearance: let her be fortunate and sweet in speech, let her be of high lineage, if she's from a good family she'll save your life.
From Arboleras vol. 1 - Sephardic cancionero and coplas oral tradition,1996 This is a song of good advice to the Bar Mitsvah boy as he grows into manhood: to be hard working and an early riser; he should take care of his hygiene (la kara lavarte), then pray (andarte a la santa kehila) and be a successful at his job (te iras al echo, te veras provecho), etc. The poem is structured like a Purim copla, with asymmetrical 9 lines in each verse.
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