African Colonialism in form of Somali Poetry

Somalia is known as the nation of poets, and it has endured decades, and even centuries of colonialism and foreign intervention. One of the great poets of Somalia, Carays Ciise Kaarshe (AUN - R.I.P.) wrote this great poem/gabay that speaks to the contact of colonialism in not only Somalia, but Africa as well. "Waan iyo Waraabe" (the lamb and the hyena), is great example. I will try to translate for you all the english translation, when I get the chance, here is the YouTube video and the poem below. As a africanist, I absolutely love this poem and many others written by the late great Carays. Enjoy! (and please excuse some of the mispellings, it is a copy and paste job). :)



Tixdaan maanta wadaa, waa waydiin iyo warcelin;
Ayaan waayaha ka mid ah, Waraabe iyo Wan baa iswaydaarsaday su’aal,
Wankii baa yiri waryaa! adduunkii waa'dacyoo walaalow dey-Afrikow,
Waswaaskii ima hayo'oo, wanaag baan kugu waddacay,
Warkuna waa kooban yahay, wadaynimo kaama rabo,
Wadanka anaa iska leh, aan kala waydaaranno'ee,
Waraaboow maalin wacan

Runtaa!
Waawgii kale waxaan lehaa
Haaheey!

Wuxuu yiri waa tahay'ee, nabsigii waayahan maqnaa
Inuu waaxdayda yimid, adi uun baa ii waramay
Wadaygay baad tahay'ee, aan waayay; iswahelino'ee
Wanyahow ha i gooyn wadnaha,

Runtaa!
Waawgii kale waxaan lehaa
Haaheey!

Wuxuu yiri waad tahay'ee, kolkaad waydoobsan tahay'ee
Ninkii kuu gala wanaag, abaal baa laga warshaa,
Waxyeello baan kugu aqaan, wanaag baan kugu waddacay,
Warkuna waa kooban yahay, wadaynimo kaama rabo,
Wadanka anaa iska leh, aan kala waydaaranno'ee,
Waraaboow maalin wacan

Runtaa!
Waawgii kale waxaan lehaa
Haaheey!

Wuxuu yiri waa tahay'ee, adduunyada waayo ma leh
Wanaag loogama irkado, ninna kama buuxsho weelkan, maantana waa wareer
Wadaygay baad tahay'ee, aan waayay; iswahelino'ee
Wanyahow ha i gooyn wadnaha

Runtaa!
Waawgii kale waxaan lehaa
Haaheey!

Wuxuu yiri waad tahay'ee, wuxuushnimadii ka baxay'ee
Wasiirro baan leeyahay'ee, wafdigaa iimara arlada, wareerkaad sheegatana,
War iyo waayo uma lihi, wanaag baan kugu waddacay,
Warkuna waa kooban yahay, wadaynimo kaama rabo,
Wadanka anaa iska leh, aan kala waydaaranno'ee,
Waraaboow maalin wacan

Runtaa!
Waawgii kale waxaan lehaa
Haaheey!

Wuxuu yiri waa tahay'ee, ma wiil iyo waalidkiiba
Ayaa kala weecan kara, axdigu waa wayn yahay'ee
Ma labadii wacad dhigata'oo, wallaahi isugu mara, iswaydaarsada xumaan!
Wadaygay baad tahay'ee, aan waayay; iswahelino'ee,
Wanyahow ha i gooyn wadnaha

Runtaa!
Waawgii kale waxaan lehaa
Haaheey!

Sword of the Winner

The sword of the sinner,
Is not as sharp as the winners'.
It's made of wood and can shatter into splinters,
While the sword of the winner can outlast even the harshest of winters.
We can stop it, It's in us,
we can avoid up being swallowed up like dinner.
Let's keep discipline like a sprinter.

Let the strong ones know that their valiant efforts will be rewarded.
While they're in with their ticket,
Others will wonder why they can't afford it.
How can they get in, they will ask themselves?

Then they'll realize that this ticket was free in the first place,
All they had to do was five times a day remember and embrace.
Remember the struggle and try to solve life's puzzle.
Seek the truth always, good and bad you should never juggle.
Back to reality... the operator yells 'next stop is 'RUGGLES'
Back to reality....On this train.
On this train, standing still, but my mind is in a chase,
In a daze,
train stops, and I'm happy to escape enclosed space,
Got out of the train, proceeded walking to a fast pace,
Not trying to be late,
I can feel my heart race.
Now I'm finally here with my ummah, it doesn't matter if I'm first or last place.
It is beautiful and it's Friday,
Wondering through my mind if this could be our last day.

- Hashim S.
1/2/10