O My Eyes, How Can They Sleep?
Recited by Ḥājj Dākōn and recorded by Sam Liebhaber at home, al-Ghaydha, May 2004.
| Poem | Translation |
|---|---|
| 1) ʾāynī hōh hībōh tšekf // w-tettōna eššənēt | O my eyes, how can they sleep // and enjoy their slumber |
| 2) we-ḥrōhī leṯḳōl // źār [sic: ṯ̣ār] essōf w-māmdēt | Or my head rest heavily // on the wool [cushions] and pillows |
| 3) w-ǧūrē men eǧenbeyn // ḏe-ṭwīlem be-ssəmrēt | While my neighbours on either side // continue their soirée? |
| 4) effəṭeynem tī mḥab // bāl ebōl w-nūmsēt | They make me think about my beloved // the possessor of a good head and artful tastes, |
| 5) ṭēba w-meḏhēbeh ġeyr // w-āśḳeth we-fḫərēt | Her disposition and style are without compare // and so are her passion and her bearing. |
| 6) wēt essōṭer w-ettəlīl // ḫā ḳrūh men eḫtəmēt | When she phrases her speech or recites a verse // it is like someone reading from the Final Revelation; |
| 7) yeḥḥəyūwī ḏ-heh mrīź // be–hhergeth w-źeḥkēt | She brings the sick back to health // with her voice and her laugh. |
| 8) heǧs yeḳtəlīben beh // be-rḥōyeb ḏ-ġarbēt | My mind is preoccupied with her // living in faraway lands. |
| 9) we-ymōh fḳedk teh // we-nhōr hnī snēt | Today I miss her // and each day for me is like a year |
| 10) w-ḏe-ḥawseb kel yawm // le-wṣōleh ke-ʾabrēt | Since I count every day // for her arrival by car, boat or plane. |
| 11) reyteh heh leḳā hnī // we-mnāʾī w-nāmēt | If only she were with me // my hope and my grace! |
| 12) ār mnē ḏ-maḫḫəlīḳ // tesyīren teh ḳadrēt | But the desires of men // walk with Fate. |