Prophetic Poetry
The original village of Jāḏeb was abandoned after the attack, and the ruins are still visible next to the sea.On May 25 the RAF attacked Hauf throughout the day and did not spare any civilian targets: they bombed the school, the medical centre, the literacy centre, and the houses of the people. Five PLA [People’s Liberation Army] and many women and children were killed, and 6 people were wounded. On the other hand, two Strikemasters were shot down.
This couplet is commonly recited by young and old throughout al-Mahra. I initially recorded this poem in Rēhen, October 2003, but the recording was subsequently lost. However, I heard this couplet multiple times afterwards from a number of different transmitters.
| Raʿfīt: | Translation |
|---|---|
| 1a) ḥamd ellāh lēk el-ḥamd // šī mǧawnī men eḫawf | Praise to God, to You is Praise // I have a refuge from fear |
| 1b) ḫāṣem yelḥaḳḳī lā // b-leǧlīǧ w-bātīḥawf | The enemy can’t come near me // at Leǧlīǧ or the domains of Ḥawf. |
| Ḥbēs: | Translation |
|---|---|
| 2a) heh w-lū leḳā nwōh // b-leǧlīǧ w-bātīḥawf | If he so desires it // at Leǧlīǧ or the domains of Ḥawf |
| 2b) yekhabsen ṣbīb // mḏelleb men eġawf | He will come at you like a downpour // the unceasing rain-star from the sky. |