For a Long Time
Recorded and recited by Ḥājj Dākōn in his home, Mḥayfīf, May 2004.
Recorded and sung by Ḥājj Dākōn in his home, Mḥayfīf, May 2004.
| Poem | Translation |
|---|---|
| 1) šī meyken wḳeyt // ʾāǧēbek ḏ–ḳerk | For a very long time // I’ve hid my love for you. |
| 2) aśśeyn beh lā // wel hād hāberk | I do not show it // and I’ve told no one |
| 3) teymōh men eźīḳ // hōh teh heźherk | Until today from distress // I revealed it. |
| 4) lād ḥamlek lā // wel sāten ṣberk | I couldn’t bear it // or be patient another hour, |
| 5) ʾāǧēbek ḳwey // ān teyk šenḥerk | I love you strongly // even if I have complained to you. |
| 6) men hēs bī ḥel // w-beh ḏ-henkerk | Ever since [love] settled inside me // I’ve come to know it well. |
| 7) lād hōh b-ḫeyr lā // wel hōh ḏ-henśerk | I’m not doing all right // and I cannot find any peace. |
| 8) wēt menk ġmisk // w-rēḥeḳ syerk | Whenever you leave me // to travel far away |
| 9) aśīnek hnī // hel ḥissek w-derk | I see you with me // and feel you wherever I turn. |
| 10) w-hōh lewḳəfeyt // fōn ār ḏe-źmerk | I stayed silent // before, when I hid the secret, |
| 11) ʾār bōlī eśśawf // w-ʾāmūr w-ʾāmerk | But the people who embarrass others // the “he-said-I-said” type |
| 12) yeffezʾam bī // wēt lūk šeḫberk | They frighten me // whenever I ask about you |
| 13) we-yʾamrem hī // hēt berk w-berk | They tell me // “You’re just like this and that.” |
| 14) hōh wudʾak lā // we-ḥḥōm lāberk | I don’t know anymore // and want to let it out: |
| 15) ḏē ǧeybek ēr šī // w-lī ḏ-ḳetrerk | Is your position with me // and have you settled on me? |
| 16) ʾaw śī men ḥwōl / bī hōh ḏ-šeḳṣerk | Is there some condition // of which I fall short? |
| 17) aw śīnek ṣlēyeḥ // w-ġeyr ḫetyerk | Have you seen some virtue // and chosen another |
| 18) hrēǧ lī ṣedḳ // w-hōh ḏ-hāḏerk | Tell me the truth // I’ll forgive you |
| 19) hōh l-hōh feḫrī // wēt hēt fetkerk | I’m not vain or deluded // even if you think [me] so: |
| 20) wel men feḫrēt // akūn ḏ-zetwerk | In vanity, // I’m not even interested. |
| 21) wād le-nhōr // wēt hissek lezerk | There never was a day // when I though to visit you |
| 22) ʾaḥawseb ḥsūb // leḳā ḏ-fetḫerk | That I gave any consideration // to being overly proud. |
| 23) wel hōh men lyēk // be-ʾawś yeġrerk | I’m not one of those // to impress you with a splendid appearance, |
| 24) tē w-lū ḏ-ettəleyk // we-ḥḥōm leǧrerk | Even if I hoped // and wanted to draw you away |
| 25) yḫeyz effəwōd // w-āyn tšāserk | My heart would refuse // since my eye adores you. |