A Passion for Beauty
Recited by Ḥājj Dākōn, recorded by Sam Liebhaber at home, al-Ghaydha, January 27, 2004.
| Poem | Translation |
|---|---|
| 1) ṭāṭ wet fṭawn // ġwē ḏ-līṭōf | When one remembers // his passion for the ladies |
| 2) yʾawzem lebēr // men źēr [sic: ṯ̣ēr] menṯ̣ōf [sic: menźōf] | He resolves to leave at night // from atop his bed. |
| 3) we-ḏ-bēr ʾātlūḳ // be-ḥḥerfərūf | The one who has gotten hung up // on these bejewelled ladies |
| 4) srīsen yheym // we-lɛ̄d yūḳōf | Wanders after them // and will never again be still. |
| 5) meḫlefsen hem // ʾān teh lūṣōf | Their departure is a worry // if I have described it [correctly]. |
| 6) ḫā ṭāṭ ḏ–šeḳnōh // l-āsēl we-śḫōf | Like one who was nourished // on honey and camel’s milk |
| 7) we-mġōren ġyīr // mtāt ḏ–ḥīźōf [sic: ḥīṯ̣ōf] | But afterwards changes // to the pleasure [food] of the stingy: |
| 8) ekkēs w-ārīm // we-bzēr ḥeyfūf | Meagre, plain bread // and dry peppers and unseasoned crumbs. |
| 9) sēn wet fetḫeyr // we-lbūd nīṯ̣ōf | When these women dress in their finest // and beautify themselves |
| 10) w-ṣaf we-ḥǧūr // w-ḳāś meġźōf | All arrayed and sitting in a circle // and have lifted their veils, |
| 11) we-ḳźawr k-nūn // men hāl yenṭōf | And they turn the blacks of their eyes // to where the tears drip forth |
| 12) be-mlōḏa ǧyīd // we-ḫšūm rīhōf | With beautiful cheeks // and a slender nose |
| 13) tnebġen ḳalb // we-ṣlīb yeḳṣōf | They capture your heart // and dash the hard-hearted to pieces. |