Jahawareer Disorientation

Jahawareer

Wiilkaan jeclaayee
Jamaal Eebbe siiyiyo
Jawhara-la-moodkii,
Dhankuu iga jiraa, tolow?
 
Jeedaalo deydeyey
Jalleecada indhuu tabe
Jahawareerka igu dhacay
Jaha kasta ka eegee,
Dhankuu iga jiraa, tolow?
 
Intuu jiifo aadmigu
Hurdo wayga jarantahay,
Jabaqdii dhaqaaqdaba
Waan juuq dhegeystaa.
 
Jalka iyo biyaha iyo
Uma jeesto oontoo
Waan jidiinqallalayoo
Jaynafkaa dibnaha iyo
Jiilku waygu go'an yahay.
 
Immisuu jir da'ay iyo
Dhibic jawda haysiyo
Jibin roobku tuuriyo
Daad soo jaguugliyo
Jirridda-gooye ila tegey.
 
Intaan jiidhey buuraa
Ama jeexey kaymaa,
Waxa aan jid dheer maray
Ama gebiyo ila jabay,
Joog ima tidhaahdee
Naftu igu jujuubtoon
Jar ka duulay awgaa.
 
Intaan jeerin qodax liyo
Jiic iyo maraag iyo
Bilcil jeenyo dheer iyo
Jillabka iyo marabboob
Sogsog jiitey awgaa.
 
Jilbiska iyo halaqiyo
Jebis iyo mas duubnaa
Jeefaaf abeeso leh
Inta aan ku joogsaday
Ee jiidhay badanaa.
 
Naf jacayl wareemoo
Dhuuxa uu jejebiyoo
Jeegada u taalloo
Jamanaysa muuqaa
Jabka iyo halaaggaa
Uma jeedo, gacalow! 
 
Jamaal, awdaa baan
Jooflaha libaaxoo
Jiriqsanaaya micidoo
Intuu Jaawo geel heley
Kala jaray halbowlaa.
 
Isagoo jiriidkiyo
Jeenyaha isdhafshoo
Juruqsanaaya dhiiggaan
Jabada kula negaado
Jaahiisa u eegoo
Ula jaaray awgaa.
 
Jiliflow maroodigu
Markuu jiido gacankee
Dhirta uu jibaaxee
Laamaha jejebiyana,
Naftu kama jidh-diiddoo
Kama jixinjixootoo
Jidhiidhico ma qabatoo,
Jamaal aawadaa baan
Jabada kula negaadoo
Jaahiisa u eegoo
Ula jaaray awgaa.
 
Waxse aan jabkaas iyo
Jirrabkaa u marayaa
Jacaylkaaga weeyee,
Dhankuu iga jiraa, tolow!
  
London, 04.06.2009
 

Disorientation

The boy that I love
was made handsome by God;
fine as a jewel.
My people, where is he?
 
I'm looking intently,
eyes fumbling -
confused -
conjuring him everywhere.
My people, where is he?
 
Whilst others sleep,
I'm sick with not-sleeping,
each faint, muddled voice
makes me strain to hear.
 
Nothing will nourish -
I don't eat or drink.
My throat's dry,
my lips crack,
a gag's in my mouth.
 
How many times has rain drenched me?
Drops pummel my skin,
then the storm's deep boom;
floods approach -
their ferocity sweeps me away like a stem.
 
How many times must I climb the mountain?
Wrestle through jungle,
trek endless paths
or tumble down their steep slopes.
My soul doesn't stay stop,
it forces me on.
I heave myself onto the ledge for you.
 
How many times have the sticky trees,
the thorns, the acacia,
the bilcil's rough limbs
the shrubs, clingy weeds
the sog-sog dragged me away?
 
The venomous black snakes,
the pythons, coiled vipers,
the startled, slippery abeeso,
how many times have I stepped over them?
How many times must I outrun them?
 
I've wounded myself with love -
I've snapped bones, they leak marrow,
I'm flat on my back.
And this self-destruction, these difficulties
mean nothing, my dear.
 
Because of your love, Jamaal,
the male lion, maned,
creaking his fangs,
has caught a she-camel
and severed its artery.
 
With his jaw,
leaning forward,
he laps up the blood.
I keep near this creature.
It is my neighbour.
I'll stay here now, because of you.
 
The elephant with its tough hide
rears its trunk,
whips trees aside,
destroying the forest.
I don't mind this either.
 
I don't feel compassion.
I don't get gooseflesh.
Because of your love, Jamaal,
I stay with beasts now.
They are my neighbours.
I belong here, because of you.
 
All this hardship I endure,
all this wasteful pain,
it's because I love you.
My people, where is he?
 

Original Poem by

Asha Lul Mohamud Yusuf

Translated by

Maxamed Xasan ‘Alto’ with Clare Pollard Language

Somali

Country

Somalia/Somaliland