Everyday I Come Complaining
Recited by Ḥājj Dākōn and recorded by Sam Liebhaber at the Khalīj Hotel, al-Ghaydha, October 7, 2003.
Recorded and sung by Ḥājj Dākōn at his home, Mḥayfīf, May 2004.
Recited by Ḥājj Dākōn and recorded by Sam Liebhaber at the Khalīj Hotel, al-Ghaydha, October 7, 2003.
| Poem | Translation |
|---|---|
| 1) kel yawm w-hōh ḏ-aśeyk // we-hnūk ašenhawr | Everyday I come complaining // to plead my case with you: |
| 2) meyten ġalḳōna šī // w-reḥmenī men eǧawr | When will you look at me // and show pity at this cruelty? |
| 3) maḥḳ ḏē rǧē w-weyd // ḥek eṣawber ḏe-ḫḫəṭawr | I’m tired of hope and promises // my soul’s patience is worn down |
| 4) sēher w-welhīt w-ʾaynī // be-dmɛ̄ tġarġawr | Insomnia and anxiety and eyes // dripping with tears. |
| 5) hēt wkōh lbedk ḳōsī // w-reḥmatk bers ḫawr | Why have you become so cruel // and your sympathy so meager? |
| 6) fōna šī lṭīf w-hōdī // sōber lī tšeḫbūr | Before you used to be kind and gentle // and always asked about me. |
| 7) hɛ̄śen ḏe-kdūr eṣawlek // [we-mhawǧes ḏe-kṯ̣awr] | What spoiled your temper // and twisted your feelings for me? |
| 8) ʾān nġamk lī ġtīrī // haddel we-ksē be-śśawr | If you’re angry with me, speak! // Advise me and seek advice. |
| 9) ḫāf ḫṭā ḏ-heǧreykeh // ḏōmeh wēt ṭwōr ydūr | Perhaps I made a mistake // this happens from time to time |
| 10) we-bnɛ̄dem ɛ̄r yḫawles // w-ḏe-ḫlūs yšāḏūr | Human beings get it wrong // but they forgive the one that does. |
| 11) lɛ̄ken hōh tē leheyḫeṭ // w-leǧrēh mnī ḳṣawr | Even if I wronged you // and a shortcoming befell me, |
| 12) hɛ̄śen lī ḏ-heǧreykeh // tē ḫṭā leḳā b-dawr | What did I do // that the misdeed should come back around? |
| 13) aw leḳā men bōlī ġeybet // we-msebbəbīn ʾāmūr | Or maybe it’s because of gossips // or people who make problems |
| 14) hēm wḳōna ʾɛ̄r yʾamrem // w-ḏ-ettōma bōlī zawr | Perhaps they are saying things // but the one who listens to slanderers |
| 15) bɛ̄r yṯ̣ōlem emḥebbeh // we-ḫḫəṭā hneh yṣawr | Acts unfairly to the lovers // and a sin is committed by him. |
| 16) hēt ɛ̄r ḏe-ġribk tēhem // we-tġawreb ḏ-īźrūr | You know them // and you know how they cause harm |
| 17) hōh le ġawreb menḥərīyet // wel b-ġeyr aśeḥźawr [sic: ašeḥźawr] | I know nothing about making complaints // I’d never speak about this to anyone. |
| 18) ṣebrōna le-mśawkī // tē men hɛ̄l w-hēd effawr | I will endure my grief // until the time [my] simmering [feelings] quiet down. |