Sign of the Times

If you talk to porteños in their 80s, they might still recall saying the following rhyme at school each morning with their hands on their chest...


En el cielo la estrellas
En el campo las espinas
En el medio de me pecho la Republica Argentina


In the sky, stars
In the field, thorns
In the midst of my breast, the Republic of Argentina


However, my husband, a porteño in his 30s like many his age, was saying for fun the following when they attended school...


En el cielo la estrellas
En el campo las espinas
En el medio de me pecho una lata de sardinas


In the sky, stars
In the field, thorns
In the midst of my breast, a tin of sardines


Between the two editions lies the modern history of a nation.