The jarchas appeared at the end of longer poems called moaxajas, written in Arabic or Hebrew. Here is some information regarding the context in which each of the five jarchas given in our book originally appeared, including a translation of the last stanza (bayt), which introduced the jarcha.

1. “Mi corazón se me va de mí”. This jarcha is found at the end of two different moaxajas:
   • Author: Yehudá Haleví (c. 1075 to c. 1140).
   • Lang.: Hebrew.
   • Type: Panegyric in honor of a friend called Abraham, preceded by an introduction on the theme of love.
   • Meter: 8 syl. (rhyme: -b) + 8 syl. (rhyme: -ad).
   • Last bayt: “My heart breaks for the gazelle who is eager to see him; she lifts toward heaven her white face, wet with tears. The day she was told ‘Your lover is ill’she exclaimed in a bitter voice:”

   • Author: Todros Abu-l-'Afia (1247 or 1257 to 1305 or 1306).
   • Lang.: Hebrew.
   • Type: Panegyric in honor of his illustrious father of the same name. As in that by Yehudá Haleví, first there is an introduction on the theme of love.
   • Meter: Same as that by Yehudá Haleví, given above.
   • Last bayt: “My heart is like a footstool under the feet of Rabbi Todros, my dear friend, who is like a bouquet of myrrh. It fills me with grief; how can you say ‘Be calm and serene’? My heart is ill and flies to him like a swallow; I cry out in the language of of the Christians:”
   • Jarcha: Mi corazón se me va de mí,
     oh señor, ¿acaso a mí tornará?
     ¡Cuán fuerte es mi dolor por el amado!
     Enfermo está, ¿cuándo sanará? (Jarcha #9)

2. “¿Qué haré, madre?”
   • Author: Yosef ibn Saddiq
   • Lang.: Hebrew.
   • Type: Love poem.
   • Meter: 5 syl. (rhyme: -ma) + 8 syl. (rhyme: -na)
   • Last bayt: “Un día a la puerta de ella acecha un ciervo y golpea violentamente, franquea su morada y ella alza la voz y se apoya sobre su madre: ‘¡No resistir!’”
     (“One day a stag appears at her door, knocks violently, circles her house; she raises her voice, leans on her mother, and says: ‘I can't resist!’”)
   • Jarcha: ¿Qué haré, madre?
     Mi amigo está a la puerta. (Jarcha #14)

3. “Di, ¿que haré?”
   • Author: Abraham ibn 'Ezra
   • Lang.: Arabic.
   • Type: Love poem.
   • Meter: 5 syl. (rhyme: -ayu) + 12 syl. (rhyme: -ayu)
   • Last bayt: “Treat gently the gazelle, who sighs in a bitter voice for her lover, who has left: I will go sorrowfully to my grave”:
   • Jarcha: Di, ¿que haré,
     cómo podré vivir?
     Espero a este amado,
     por él moriré. (Jarcha #15)

4. “¿Qué haré o qué será de mí?”
   This jarcha is found at the end of two different moaxajas:
   • Author: Todros Abu-l-'Afia (1247 or 1257 to 1305 or 1306).
   • Lang.: Hebrew.
   • Type: Panegyric in honor of Don Isaac ibn Sadoq (advisor to King Alfonso el Sabio), preceded by an introduction dealing with love.
   • Meter: 11 syl. (rhyme: -bi) + 3 syl. (rhyme: -bi)+ 7 syl. (rhyme: -bi) .
   • Last bayt: “When he comes, the village revels in his glory; she feels transported up to the heavens whenever he is near. That's why she exclaims on the day of his departure:”
   • Jarcha: ¿Qué haré o qué será de mí?
     Amigo mío,
     no te alejes de mi lado. (Jarcha #16)

5. “Decid vosotras, ay hermanillas”
   • Author: Yehudá Haleví (c. 1075 to c. 1140)
   • Lang.: Hebrew.
   • Type: Panegyric in honor of Isaq Qrispin; employs the language of love poetry.
   • Meter: 8 syl. (rhyme: -as) + 8 syl. (rhyme: -li);
                8 syl. (rhyme: -eyu) + 8 syl. (rhyme: -ari).
   • Last bayt: “The graceful gazelle would give her life for you, that young girl who told her story: when her cherubim rose up and flew away from her, she could not hold back her tears; she exclaimed with a bitter voice her love in front of her friends:”
   • Jarcha: Decid vosotras, ay hermanillas,
     ¿cómo contener mi mal?
     Sin el amigo no viviré,
     ¿adónde le iré a buscar? (Jarcha #4)

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