Race Relations in al-Mahra
These lines were recited to me by Suhayl Zaʿbenōt, al-Ghaydha, July 2008. No recording is available.
| Naṣīb: | Translation |
|---|---|
| 1) wet hēl taḳṣīm // baḥretyen seyt | At the time of dividing the spoils, // [there are] nine fishermen |
| 2) w-rikḥ ykūn // ār ṭār śāṯeyt | Although the labor was // upon the backs of three |
| One of his fellow laborers, a bedouin from the tribe of Zaʿbenōt: | Translation |
|---|---|
| 1) w-sōlem nṣeyb // eġeyǧ effəreyt | God bless Naṣīb, // a clever man |
| 2) nḥamk tetrēk // eʾeyd eḳśeyt | We want you to leave off // [working with] dried sardines |
| 3) ḏel mens medḫōl // wel ḥōlet nfeyt | There’s no income in it // and it doesn’t profit [your] circumstances |
| 4) yā reytek hnēn // tešǧeywer wḳeyt | Why don’t you settle down with us // as our neighbor for awhile |
| 5) le-ḥmō ḏ-ḥebrūt // we-mḥallet ḏ-śeyt | At the water of Ḥabarūt // and the abode of Wadi Śeyt? |
| Naṣīb responds: | Translation |
|---|---|
| 1) ḏ-ār hōh ḫwefk // w-fezʾak ṭeyt | But I’m frightened // and scared about one [thing] |
| 2) ḏel šī dlīl // lew-ḥaydī ḳśeyt | Which is that I have no guide // and my hand is “dry” [empty] |
| 3) wet eneddeh // emāz ṣebbetsen ṭeyt | When the shepherdesses take the goat flocks out to pasture, // they are all of one type |
| 4) trebten ḏerf // we-dḥōr ḫūṭeyt | Tightly arranged [against even] a fleabite // and they head-butt the [goat] from another flock. |