A Very Strange Poem

Question

This is a very strange poem I was required to memorize for school. I'd like to know what the significance of the poem is, because the poem means absolutely nothing.

De Tin Marin | De dos pingue | Cucara, macara, titere fue | Yo no fui, fue Tete | Pegale, pegale, a quien fue.

The English translation is just a jumble of words. Could someone tell me how memorizing this will help me learn Spanish? I'm not being sarcastic, I'm genuinely curious!

¡Gracias!

Thanks everyone! - 00ffada9, Feb 21, 2014

Answer 1

Bueno es una cancioncilla típica creo que de Mexico o de Peru que sirve para echar la suerte, en España tenemos, Pito, pito, gorgorito. ¿A dónde vas tú tan bonito? A la era verdadera, Pim, pum, !fuera!. jaja en ingles teneis parecido creo Eeny, meeny, miny, moe, Catch a tiger by the toe. If he hollers let him go, Eeny, meeny, miny, moe. Son canciones que no tienen ningún sentido en realidad

We no longer use it here , because there were bad implications years ago . - ray76, Feb 21, 2014

¿Que paso? espero que haya servido como ejemplo al menos - Neox, Feb 21, 2014

Answer 2

It's not a poem! It's more like a short song. It is used among children when they are trying to decide among two things or person.

when you say, de tin...you point out to one thing(or person).....then when you say marin....you point out to the other thing( or person).... and you go on.

I hope you get the idea.

Oh really! That's cool! - 00ffada9, Feb 21, 2014

Yeah. Even the adults use it sometime. I sing it sometimes with my children. - juanmelgar, Feb 22, 2014

Answer 3

Creo que el equivalente en inglés es "eeny meeny miny moe"