Somali.literature

- Follow me to my journey to learning about Somalia Somali culture Poetry Literature

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Ubax deyrti baxayow udgoonow

Sida oogta waaberi iftiimow

He’s aromal, like a flower grown in autumn

You glow like an early gleaming morning

- Sahra Ahmad

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Iyo weynidii Saado

Iyo sawracii hooyo

Sinjigii hablaa geeska

take after your mother's brilliance,

Saado's loftiness - that sign

of the women of the Horn.

- Hadraawi

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Inkastuu dillaacshoo qalbiga, daabac ku xardhaayo

Xididdada dil-dilayee wadnuhu, dirayo dhiiggooda

Dahriga iyo laabtaba ku dhigo, Deeqa magacaaga

Diiwaankii Cilmoo kale galoo, deli ka laallaado

Suugaanta duugga ah murtida, damashi kuu qaado

Daaweeynta heesaha intaa, daram garaacayo,

Oo aanu dookhaaga noqon, waa dariiq xidhane.

No matter that he wears his heart on his chest

and shows you the blood's beat in his veins

and prints your name on his skin

and writes love poems like Cilmi, from the edge,

and sings enchanted ancient lyrics full of wisdom,

if he's not to your taste, he's just a blocked path.

~Asha Lul Mohamud Yusuf

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Jamaal, awdaa baan

Jooflaha libaaxoo

Jiriqsanaaya micidoo

Intuu Jaawo geel heley

Kala jaray halbowlaa.

Because of your love, Jamaal,

the male lion, maned,

creaking his fangs,

has caught a she-camel

and severed its artery.

- Asha Lul Mohamud Yusuf

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Inan timaha biiftoo

Baarkana u tidicdoo

this girl who’s busy with her tresses

braiding them tightly to the tip

- Maxamuud Maxamad Yaasiin ‘Dheeg’

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Waa hoggaan dhaqameedka

Marna aan la hureyne,

Lagu soo hiranaayo.

It's the lodestone of our culture

Utterly indispensible

The means of seeking assistance

- Jamac Kadiye Cilmi

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Heello iyo buraanbur

Hooriskeeda iyo jiibka

Higgaadda iyo luuqda

Haasaawihiyo ammaanta

Hanjabaaddiyo faanka

Halxidhaaliyo sheeko.

It's Heello and Buraanbur,

It's chorus and refrain

Syllables and music

Conversation and veneration

Threats and boasts

Riddles and tales

- Jamac Kadiye Cilmi

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Maxaa erey tafiir go'ay!

Maxaan maanso teeriya,

Every lost syllable tells in my heartbeat,

Every lost line is a scar on my heart.

- Maxamad Xaashi Dhamac ‘Gaariye’

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Taltallaabso maantoo,

Murtidaadu waa toge!

Taageer hiddaayoo,

Sayidkii ku toosoo,

Taabsii xogtaadoo,

Ku tirow Balaayacas!

Soo toosi Haabiil!

A new age

Of wisdom in poetry, yes, a new

Tradition! Go, now, and wake Sayid -

Give him the news, tell all the great

Poets our language lives again,

And this time written to last in lines

That can't be lost or thrown away.

- Maxamad Xaashi Dhamac ‘Gaariye’

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Waa inaan ku dhaataa afkayga,

Waa inaan ku dhistaa afkayga,

Waa inaan ku dhaqdaa afkayga,

Waa inaan ku dhergaa afkayga,

Waa inaan ku dhintaa afkayga.

I must be devoted to Somali

develop through Somali

create within Somali

I must get full of my language

and give myself for my own mother tongue.

- Hadraawi

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Ninkii ooridiisii rag kale, loo igdhaan ahaye

Ninka ilo biyo leh soo arkoo, oomman baan ahaye

I’m the man whose fiancé has been given to another,

I’m the man who sees springs but whose thirst remains unquenched.

~ - Raage Ugaas

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Nimuu caashaq dhuuxiisa galay, waw dhutinayaaye

Waa u dhiigyaraan ruux jacayl, dhibay naftiisiiye

When the marrow of a man is infected by love, he staggers.

When a man is troubled by love, it drains him.

~ Faysal Aw-Cabdi Axmad

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Haldhaayaduna cawryaan

Indhaheeda cawsha ah

Mus cideedka midabka ah

The colour of Catiya's skin is

The colour that all women envy.

~ Maxamad Xaashi Dhamac ‘Gaariye’

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Sariida Fardowsoo

Safkii Nebiga raacoo

Salaamo uga dhigan taa.

in the pastures of Paradise:

may you be assigned to the Prophet's company,

that's my salaam of parting,

- Cabdulqaadir Cabdi ‘Shube’

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Afartaa ku cabbiray cimilo wacanoo

Carrigaan u dhashaa ku caanbaxayoo

Ciiddiisaa dahaboon cid gooynaynoo

Caynaaniyo waa cawiyo nabadoo

Caawaba waanigaa ku ciidaayee,

Caddaalad ku caafimaad qaba!

In these four verses I tell of a perfect environment

Once my country was famous for its loveliness

Its soil is gold beyond price

A sanctuary, it's a place of peace and safety

Tonight I celebrate my country

And may it be healed by justice!

- Asha Lul Mohamud Yusuf

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Ku dhaado dhulkaaga!

Ka dheefso dhurkiisa!

Ka dhawrso xumaanta!

Ku dhiirro wanaagga!

Dhibtaada aqoonso!

Adduunyada dheeho!

Ka dheego tacliinta!

Dhiggaa la xisaabtan!

Love dearly what your homeland's done,

benefit from its blessings;

defend yourselves from damage,

do good deeds with due daring;

admit to what defeats you,

attend to the world's delivering;

be diligent in learning,

keep pace with foreign peers!

- Cabdulqaadir Cabdi ‘Shube’

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Cadraddii ammaan lehe

Carshigii jamaalkaan

U caleemo saaraye

I praise her.

I crown her with garlands.

- Maxamad Xaashi Dhamac ‘Gaariye’