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تيمّموا غير وادي النيل وانتجعوا by Unknown — Analysis & Translation

2 min read Arabic

Original Poem

تيمّموا غير وادي النيل وانتجعوا فليس في مصر للأطماع متّسع كفّوا مطامعكم عنا أليس لكم مما جنيتم وما تجنونه شبع تسع وخمسون كم فيهن من نشب لو فيكمو بالكثير الجمع مقتنع يا للكنانة من منكود طالعها ماذا يجر عليها النوم والطمع

Translation (English)

Turn away from the Nile Valley and look for other places There is no space for greed in Egypt Stop your ambitions from reaching us, don't you have enough From what you have gained and continue to gain? Fifty-nine, how much wealth is there among them If only you were satisfied with the plenty you have Oh, the misfortune of the Kinanah What do sleep and greed bring to it?

About the Poet

Unknown (Classical Arabic Poetry)

This poem appears to be a classical Arabic poem, possibly from the era before the Arabic renaissance (An-Nahḍah). The poet is unknown, and it reflects the traditional style and structure of Arabic poetry.

Historical Context

Literary Form
Classical Arabic poetry
When Written
Classical era, before the Arabic renaissance
Background
The poem addresses themes of greed and the consequences of exploitation, possibly reflecting on historical or political contexts involving Egypt and its resources.

Sources: https://abd1958.site123.me/المدونة/ل-مصر-أم-لربوع-الش-ام-سوريا-ومصر-حافظ-ابراهيم, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic_poetry

Detailed Explanation

This poem is a classical Arabic piece that speaks to the themes of greed and exploitation. The poet urges others to look beyond the Nile Valley, suggesting that Egypt cannot accommodate further greed. The poem criticizes those who are never satisfied with what they have, despite having reaped and continuing to reap plenty. The mention of 'fifty-nine' could be a metaphorical reference to wealth or resources, questioning why those who have much are not content. The poem concludes with a lament for the Kinanah, a historical region or tribe, highlighting the misfortune brought by greed and complacency. Through its vivid imagery and rhetorical questions, the poem critiques human desires and the impact of unchecked ambition on society.

Themes

  • Greed
  • Exploitation
  • Contentment
  • Misfortune

Literary Devices

  • Metaphor: The poem uses 'Nile Valley' as a metaphor for Egypt's resources.
  • Rhetorical Question: The poem asks questions to provoke thought about greed and satisfaction.
  • Imagery: Vivid descriptions of wealth and misfortune create a strong visual impact.
  • Personification: Greed and sleep are given human-like qualities, affecting the land.

Word Dictionary

Word Meaning Translation Transliteration
تيمّموا اتجهوا Turn towards tayammamu
غير سوى Other than ghayr
وادي منطقة نهر Valley waadi
النيل النهر في مصر The Nile an-neel
وانتجعوا ابحثوا عن مكان آخر Seek elsewhere wanta'joo
فليس لا يوجد There is not fa laysa
في داخل In fi
مصر البلد Egypt misr
للأطماع للجشع For greed lil-atma'
متّسع مكان Room mutasa'
كفّوا أوقفوا Restrain kaffu
مطامعكم طموحاتكم Your ambitions mataami'kum
عنا منّا From us anna
أليس ألا Isn't it alaysa
لكم لديكم You have lakum
مما من الذي From what mimma
جنيتم حصدتم You have reaped janaytum
وما والذي And what wa ma
تجنونه تحصدونه You continue to reap tajniinahu
شبع اكتفاء Satisfaction shaba'
تسع رقم تسعة Nine tis'
وخمسون رقم خمسون Fifty wa khamsun
كم كمية How much kam
فيهن فيها In them fihinna
من من Of min
نشب ثروة Wealth nashab
لو إذا If law
فيكمو فيكم In you fikumoo
بالكثير بكثرة With abundance bil-katheer
الجمع التجمع The gathering al-jam'
مقتنع راضٍ Content muqtani'
يا يا Oh ya
للكنانة لأرض الكنانة For the Kinanah lil-kanaanah
منكود سيء الحظ Unfortunate mankood
طالعها حظها Its fortune taali'uha
ماذا ما الذي What madha
يجر يجلب Brings yajurr
عليها إليها Upon it alayha
النوم الراحة Sleep an-nawm
والطمع والجشع And greed wa-tama'

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