THE TALE OF JALAHENA

Cue (NZERS), Issue 13, 15 December 1944, Page 10

THE TALE OF JALAHENA

Oh sad the dreadful tale, sad, sad and short Of Talahena and her Yimkin Teen, Who loved and lost where Zibib once held Court Beside the banks of Bukra Arabeen. Oft times they met beneath the Shufti-tree What time. the .musquais with its mournful cry Fled the swift-darting kabab ceaselessly And bearded mouskis uttered many a sigh. Alas, Ahmin Marouf the maid has seen, The evil-hearted Quais of Qua is Ketiah, And tells his henchman, Imshi la Bardin, «Mount your swift galabiyeh, bring her here.» So Imshi mounts his walad and departs a • To maleesh Talahena from her man.' - ■ ~ • His task essays. Up Yimkin swiftly starts, And draws his sharp felucca from its can. Long time the battle sways till Imshi’ sword Strikes Yimkin in the mafeesh. With a cry Lifeless he sinks upon the yallah sward And Talahena cries « Mungaria. shai». They bring her to the couch of evil Quais, And strip the igri from her staniswah, But ere her lustful lord has kissed her \ twice She dies with broken-hearted cries of «la». They buried her beneath the Shufti-tree And laid her Yimkin with her clasped in doom,' And there the musquais sing their threnody And Bukra Arabeen rolls past their tomb.