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Description

Among the lesser-known songs of the Sephardic tradition is one that addresses the theme of incestuous love, involving a young woman who resists the forbidden desires of her brother. In the first stanza, the heroine of the poem is introduced as a young, beautiful girl ("blanka i ermoza komo yasemi") who is dedicated to her work and financially supports herself ("kuziendo robas para la djente"). This description reinforces the idea of her innocence and purity, as her daily life appears simple and virtuous. The use of "yasemi" (jasmine) to describe her beauty enhances the symbolism of purity, as jasmine is often associated with cleanliness and delicacy.

In the second stanza, the drama unfolds when her brother expresses his illicit desires. The phrase "tu ermozura me kita loko" (your beauty drives me mad) reveals that the brother is so consumed by his passion that he is unable to think rationally. The idea of becoming her husband is clearly incestuous and sinful, as it contradicts social and religious norms. His passion for his sister is described as uncontrollable and immoral.

In the third stanza, the sister's response is resolute and filled with aversion. She calls him "kruelo" (cruel), showing how immoral she considers his proposition. Instead of succumbing to her brother's desires, she prefers death—"mil vezes mas prefiero mi muerte" (a thousand times I would prefer my death)—rather than tarnish her family’s honor and her morality. The phrase "ma de tu sangre manchar mi onor no" (but with your blood, I will not stain my honor) demonstrates the intensity of her reaction, as honor and purity are highly valued in the traditional society portrayed by the poem. The heroine’s "white" beauty symbolizes purity, while her brother’s desires threaten to defile it.

The song is found in the traditions of Thessaloniki and Rhodes, as well as in those of Turkey and Bulgaria, according to the archives of Moshe Saul.

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Version 1

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Version 2

Text in Ladino

Avia de ser una muchacha, blanka i ermoza komo yasemi. Eya solika se mantenia, kuziendo robas para la djente. Un dia el ermaniko le dezia: “Ermana mia, luzia de mi korason, tu ermozura me kita loko, marido tuyo kiero ser yo.” La ermana le respondia: “Ermano mio, kruelo de mi korason, mil vezes mas prefiero mi muerte, ma de tu sangre manchar mi onor no.”

Translation

Once there was a young girl, white and beautiful like jasmine. She managed on her own, sewing clothes for the people. One day, her little brother said to her, "My sister, light of my heart, your beauty drives me mad, I want to become your husband." The sister replied to him, "My brother, cruel one, who wounds my heart, a thousand times I’d rather face my death, than stain my honor with your blood."

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