bo yenan
A Retelling of Libyan Folktale One day Bo Yenan the frog and his wife Jirana’a had a terrible row which ended with Jirana’a packing her things and leaving. She went to her family and refused to come back. The frog was saddened by this. Every day, all day, he sat alone by the water. After a few days of this, the donkey came along and asked him: Kanak ya Bo Yenan? Mdair wajhak besawdan Uo ga3d fi shamsaan? What is wrong with you, Bo Yenan? Why have you blackened your face? Why are you sitting in the sun? The frog answered: Sit elnisaa Mchat harjana The queen of all women, Left unhappy. Then the donkey brayed and said: “Don’t worry; I’ll bring her back.” So he went to Jirana’a’s family home, and knocked on the door. Jirana’a opened the door a crack, and speaking from behind it, she said: Man daraz 3la darna Uo tayar banat afkarna Nichwu mseerinata fi narna Uo n’dthawgu menha jaarna Who knocked so loudly on our door, And set the daughters of our thoughts to flight? We’ll roast his intestines in our fire, And give our neighbor some to taste. The donkey answered: Ana l’e7maar Uo ‘3wenaati keef idinaar. I am the donkey And my eyes are like the dinar. Jirana’a did not open the door. She laughed and said: Lu kanak e7maar, We’3wenaatak keef idinaar, May’shaylu 3leek E’zibl wel eghbaar. If you were a donkey, With eyes like the dinar, They would not use you to carry The dung and the dust. The donkey could find nothing to say to that, so he left. The next say, the frog was still sitting alone by the water, when the hen came by. What is wrong with you, Bo Yenan? Why have you blackened your face? Why are you sitting in the sun? The frog answered: The queen of all women, Left unhappy. The hen said: “Don’t worry; I’ll bring her back.” So she went to Jirana’a’s family home, and knocked on the door. Jirana’a spoke from behind the door, and she said: Who knocked so loudly on our door, And set the daughters of our thoughts to flight? We’ll roast his intestines in our fire, And give our neighbor some to taste. The hen answered: Ana d’jaja Uo fuog rasi ghnaza Da7yati kduos kduos Mayakil minha illa esultan wel 3ruus I am the hen, And on top of my head is my comb, My eggs are piles upon piles, No one eats from them but the sultan and the bride. Jirana’a did not open the door. She laughed and said: Le kanek I’djaja, W fuog rasik ghnaza W da7yatik kduos kduos Mayakil minha illa esultan wel 3ruus Maykuon mingarek fi kul zibla medfus. If you were the hen With a comb on top of your head, Your eggs piles upon piles, No one eating them but the sultan and the bride, Your beak would not be buried in every dirt pile. The hen did not know what to say to this, so she went home. The next day the rooster came by. What is wrong with you, Bo Yenan? Why have you blackened your face? Why are you sitting in the sun? The frog answered: The queen of all women, Left unhappy. The rooster said: “Don’t worry; I’ll bring her back.” I will do better than the hen. So he went to the Jirana’a’s home, and knocked on the door. Jirana’a spoke from behind the door, and she said: Who knocked so loudly on our door, And set the daughters of our thoughts to flight? We’ll roast his intestines in our fire, And give our neighbor some to taste. The rooster said: Ana e’deek W fuog rasi taji Bi l’serwal emkhabal I am the rooster Over my head is my crown, And I wear the wide trousers. Jirana’a did not open the door. She laughed and said: Lu kanak e’deek Uo foug rasak tajak Uo serwaalk mkhabal Matadin ala kul knasa. If you were the rooster Over your head your crown With your wide trousers You would not crow standing on rubbish. The rooster did not know what to say to that, so he went home. Now the eagle came by. And he too, asked the frog: What is wrong with you, Bo Yenan? Why have you blackened your face? Why are you sitting in the sun? The frog answered: The queen of all women, Left unhappy. The eagle said: “Don’t worry; I’ll bring her back.” So he went to Jirana’a’s family home, and knocked on the door. Jirana’a spoke from behind the door, and she said: Who knocked so loudly on our door, And set the daughters of our thoughts to flight? We’ll roast his intestines in our fire, And give our neighbor some to taste. The eagle answered proudly: Ana e’nesir We’3mamti zai el kasir. I am the eagle, And my turban is like a castle. Jirana’a did not open the door. She laughed and said: Lu kanak enesir Uo mamtak zai elkaasir Matshim eremima fi Masr Terilha baen eldhur wel 3sr. If you were the eagle With a turban like the castle, You would not, scenting dead remains in Egypt, Fly there between the noon and afternoon. The eagle did not know what to say to this, so he went home. The next day, a grey horse came by. What is wrong with you, Bo Yenan? Why have you blackened your face? Why are you sitting in the sun? The frog answered: The queen of all women, Left unhappy. The horse said nothing, but went to the Jirana’a’s family home, and knocked on the door. Jirana’a spoke from behind the door: Who knocked so loudly on our door, And set the daughters of our thoughts to flight? We’ll roast his intestines in our fire, And give our neighbor some to taste. The horse neighed loudly and said: Ana l’7saan 3laya yarkab elamir wel sultan. I am the horse. On me ride the prince and the sultan. Jirana’a opened her door, hopped onto the horse’s back, and went home.