Come to me softly

Qaydar hawroow Qayood foore leh Ka qadhqadhiyoow Manka qudhacaw Amba qayrkay Kaan ka qaatee Qaayibaad tee Qudhu kii ay raacdoow Waad qaboobiye Qunyar soo soco Qod madheedhoo Midho qurux badan Quluu bixiyiyo Qawl udgooneey Qiiq ka baxa iyo Qoon wadnaha jira I qaboojaay Qiimo tii lahaydeey Waad qaboobiye Qunyar soo soco Xareed qubanoo Qoorta meesha […]

Ibrahim Hirsi

Ibrahim Hirsi is a student, writer and peer researcher for the Centre for Mental Health. A digital Somali cultural archivist and independent researcher; his writings explore the changes that occurred in Somali culture and society during colonialism and to the present day. His work has appeared in PBLJ and he has worked as a consultant […]

Forget About Love

Cishaduu Ilaahay Cirka taagay udubli’i Ciiddana ka dhigey gogol Webiyadaa cartama iyo Cidhifyada bad kaga xidhey Iyo buurahaa culus Cimrigeed adduunyada Waxaa jira col iyo nabade Caydh iyo nin xoolo leh Iyo laba is-caashaqay Caawana kama ay tegin Caynkaynnu ku ogeyn Adna calafka kuu qoran Cunaa seegi maayee, Caashaqa ha baayicin! _____________________________________ Caddadkuu Ilaahay Carradeenna […]

Xasan Ganey

Poet Hassan Haji Abdillahi, nicknamed “Hasan-Ganey”, is a poet and playwright who has had an outsize influence on Somali theatre, penning the famous piece ‘Tragedy is the Teacher of the World’. In addition, Hassan-Ganey was one of the poets who participated in the seminal Deley poetry series (1979-1980), contributing a poem called ‘Ka Dartaye Ma […]

Watergate

Wiswis bayga galay Kaartarow weheshigiinniiye Waayo-arag intii aan ka helay buugaggii weriyey Wareerkaad baddeen buu khalqigu weli la taahaaye Su'aalaan ku weydiinayaa ila sal waaweyne Walaalnimadii aan koolin jirey waadhka yaa geliyey? Isagoo takoor wada ayaa laba wejiileeyey? Waadaasha xoolaha lumaa weere waw halise Hadba weerka naag baw xidhaan weydey kii qabaye Wedkii Maalkom Ekis […]

Passing Cloud

Gabbal-dhaca cadceed-yahay U sii faano-guratee Casar gaaban liiqii Godka weeraraysaa! Go’e fuley miyaad tahay? Waa maxay garmaamadu? Ma googooska sagalkiyo Gamasyada shucaacaa Gaade kaa horreeyiyo Gurigaad ku hoyan layd War ku gubay ka soo direy? Mise gabadhan dhoolkiyo Gu’goo shaalka xaytiyo Fad galbeed la moodaa Kolkaad gelin is-dhugateen Guluubkaagii shiikhoo Dib-u guradku waa baqe? Mise […]

Self-Misunderstood

Garaad-daran naftaydaay! Geeri iyo nololeey! Guluf lagu negaadaay! Gabno laga dhergaayeey! Gabbal dumay habeenoo Hadh gadiidan yahayeey! Lammaan aan is-geyinoo Guri qudh ah u hooydaay! Googgaada xaajada Gaaxdeedu waxay tahay, Maan garan xogtaadee, Maxaad uga gol leedahay? Ma wax gaar ah baad too Goonidiisa jira oo Garab aan u baahnayn? Mise gobol dad-weynaha Ka go’aynnin […]

Seer

‘Cawdu billoo balooy baydh.’ ‘Bismillaahi “Yaasiin”‘. Botorkiyo ciyaartoo Sidaa lagu bilaaboo, Anna biito-biitiyo Bille-jire ku dheelaan Beri hore garaadsaday. Dadka waxan ka bawsaday: ‘Dhool bari ka hirey baa Dhaanka loo bariiyaa’. Gabaygana Burhaanoow Waxa aniga lay baray Inu laba u kala baxo Beeshana u kala yahay: Waxay Biliso igu tidhi: ‘Hadday maanso beer tahay Run […]