Monday, 04 July 2011 16:40
Cubans admire women on the streets of Havana. Photo courtesy of Cubadebate.
I think that Andalusian heritage within Cubans, and Havanians in particular, comes in the form of publicly recognizing a female´s beauty, flattering her, conveying a lot with few words, simply approaching her with a compliment.
It is our oral tribute to a beautiful woman, the fantastic combination of physical and spiritual primeness, although the first condition is what almost always motivates us.
I emphasize on Havanians, as this popular form of expressing admiration is more characteristic of city dwellers, where nobody know anybody and it´s not frowned upon, never brash, tacky nor sloppy. The truth is, pick-up lines are intrinsic to our idiosyncrasy, a mischievous suspicion that defines and characterizes us.
Pick-up lines are generally polite with ulterior motives, but also can be imaginative words coming from deep down within; a romantic way of saying something, denoting perplexity in front of the dazzling. They vary in intonation, emphasis, poetic meter and in some cases, even self exaggeration upon others. Some examples:
"¿De qué juguetería te escapaste, muñeca?" - "What toy store did you escape from, doll?"
"¿Qué hace una estrella volando tan bajito?" - "Why is a star flying so low?"
"¡Quién fuera bizco para verte dos veces!" - "I wish I was cross-eyed so I could see two of you!"
"Si besarte fuera pecado, me iría feliz para el infierno" - "If kissing you was a sin, I would be happy as Hell."
"Si eres casada, no te preocupes.... ¡No soy celoso!" - "If you´re married, don´t worry…I´m not a jealous person!"
"Con un bombón como tú, no me importa ser diabético" - "With a bonbon like you, I don´t care if I´m diabetic."
"¡Y luego dicen que los monumentos no andan!" - "And they say monuments don´t walk!"
"¿Qué está pasando en el cielo, los ángeles se están cayendo?" - "What´s going on in heaven? Angles are falling from the sky."
"Estás como la historia de Cuba, vieja pero interesante" - "You´re like Cuba´s history, old but interesting."
"¡Con tal de que me atienda, Doctora, soy capaz de ponerme hasta de parto!" - "As long as you´re treating me Doctor, I´m able to go into labor."
"Tu madre ha de ser pastelera, porque un bombón como tú no lo hace cualquiera" - "Your mother must be a pastry chef, because not just anyone can make a bonbon like you."
"Si tus labios fuesen leche y los míos arroz...qué festín de arroz con leche nos daríamos tu y yo" - "If you lips were fused with milk and mine rice, what a feast of milk and rice we would have."
"Si cocinas como caminas, me como hasta la raspita" - "If you cook like you walk, I would eat until there´s no more."
Though I´ve not confirmed it, I´m almost positive that those Havanians now dispersed throughout so many latitudes, have sparks flying when a lovely local is in their vision. Perhaps they don´t say an expressive pick-up line as strong as these or others, but I have certain they will give a wink, a gesture or gallant expression in the presence of her beauty, as it has shown to be the best combination for opening an apparently well-protected and cared-for safety box. And so we are Cubans.
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