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!
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Friday, December 3, 2010
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
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
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Human progress is at a standstill
Every atom in the universe serves a purpose, the life we live seems like it has been designed for us to live in by our creator. We have been given all of the tools necessary for us to survive and even thrive. We have discovered many things since our beginnings and the closer we get to discovering scientifically all of the things that have puzzled us, it seems that we are forgetting the social understanding that we as humans should have of each other. Sacrificing for our fellow human beings is somewhat of an inconvenience and it seems that the human race is really becoming a race. At the end of it all, we all get buried in the same earth and we all face the same judge.
The sun, stars and the moon serve their purpose in the universe as much as you and i do. The question is are we contributing to its progress are are we inching towards its destruction. Technological advances have helped us in our quest to search for answers beyond the stars that we see in our sky. In the discoveries we have to make, we have to also discover deeper understanding of our fellow human beings. There is no progress without social progress. There is no progress if we don't all progress and benefit. The disparity between rich and fed, and poor and hungary is getting larger every year within country's that are developed or developing. At the end, we are going to be asked: what were our deeds, as the balance scale tilts, you can only hope that it tilts to your favor.
The sun, stars and the moon serve their purpose in the universe as much as you and i do. The question is are we contributing to its progress are are we inching towards its destruction. Technological advances have helped us in our quest to search for answers beyond the stars that we see in our sky. In the discoveries we have to make, we have to also discover deeper understanding of our fellow human beings. There is no progress without social progress. There is no progress if we don't all progress and benefit. The disparity between rich and fed, and poor and hungary is getting larger every year within country's that are developed or developing. At the end, we are going to be asked: what were our deeds, as the balance scale tilts, you can only hope that it tilts to your favor.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
No credibility No Degree
I am a Man without a Country, I am the most hospitable bum. No credibility, no degree.
The dirt roads when I was younger raised me. My people... please praise me.
I am a soul that is empty, hollow like the barrel of a gun.
I am filled with so much fire inside, so much beauty truly. On the outside I am dark and coal-like.
I guess you can say I am the Diamond in the rough. I am Patrice, I am Che, I am Martin, I am Malcolm.
I am all that, but I want to be more.
Growing up I wanted to be like Mike,
But since I have grown up I want to be like Sallalaahu-'Alayhi-Wasallim.
I have dreams to reach farther than my dwellings,
Enough to stir a revolution so the silent majority can start rebelling.
Despite all of the bullet shellings, streets filled with bodies smelling,
we have endured and survived our doomed foretelling.
Yes our story is very compelling, but all praise is due to Allah for us excelling.
-------------------------
- Hashim
3/22/10
The dirt roads when I was younger raised me. My people... please praise me.
I am a soul that is empty, hollow like the barrel of a gun.
I am filled with so much fire inside, so much beauty truly. On the outside I am dark and coal-like.
I guess you can say I am the Diamond in the rough. I am Patrice, I am Che, I am Martin, I am Malcolm.
I am all that, but I want to be more.
Growing up I wanted to be like Mike,
But since I have grown up I want to be like Sallalaahu-'Alayhi-Wasallim.
I have dreams to reach farther than my dwellings,
Enough to stir a revolution so the silent majority can start rebelling.
Despite all of the bullet shellings, streets filled with bodies smelling,
we have endured and survived our doomed foretelling.
Yes our story is very compelling, but all praise is due to Allah for us excelling.
-------------------------
- Hashim
3/22/10
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
The recent somaali sex-trafficking allegations
Shame alone is not enough for these criminals, but a harsh punishment so that any future of these kinds of activities are quieted. All the while we must not forget that these individuals have individual stories that have led them to such criminal activity such as this, so we must socially look at this and what really went wrong and how can we steer future children of the world from taking steps like this. All we can do as bystanders is just criticize, but our critique falls into deaf ears because these individuals are lost. Social programs must be created to fight these kind of situations and travesties.
I can write more about this.. but I’ll leave it at that…
I can write more about this.. but I’ll leave it at that…
Monday, March 22, 2010
Somalia's Future
I am a Man without a Country, I am the most hospitable bum. No credibility, no degree.
The dirt roads when I was younger raised me. My people... please praise me.
I am a soul that is empty, hollow like the barrel of a gun.
I am filled with so much fire inside, so much beauty truly. On the outside I am dark and coal-like.
I guess you can say I am the Diamond in the rough. I am Patrice, I am Che, I am Martin, I am Malcolm.
I am all that, but I want to be more.
Growing up I wanted to be like Mike,
But since I have grown up I want to be like Sallalaahu-Calayhi-Wasallim.
I have dreams to reach farther than my dwellings,
Enough to stir a revolution so the silent majority can start rebelling.
Despite all of the bullet shellings, streets filled with bodies smelling,
we have endured and survived our doomed foretelling.
Yes our story is very compelling, but all praise is due to Allah for us excelling.
-------------------------
- Hashim
3/22/10
The dirt roads when I was younger raised me. My people... please praise me.
I am a soul that is empty, hollow like the barrel of a gun.
I am filled with so much fire inside, so much beauty truly. On the outside I am dark and coal-like.
I guess you can say I am the Diamond in the rough. I am Patrice, I am Che, I am Martin, I am Malcolm.
I am all that, but I want to be more.
Growing up I wanted to be like Mike,
But since I have grown up I want to be like Sallalaahu-Calayhi-Wasallim.
I have dreams to reach farther than my dwellings,
Enough to stir a revolution so the silent majority can start rebelling.
Despite all of the bullet shellings, streets filled with bodies smelling,
we have endured and survived our doomed foretelling.
Yes our story is very compelling, but all praise is due to Allah for us excelling.
-------------------------
- Hashim
3/22/10
Sunday, March 7, 2010
So Close Yet So Distant
So close yet so distant. what used to surround you yesterday now seem so distant even though they never seem to vanish off your rear view mirror.
Staring back, reflecting and blink my eyes to focus on whats ahead on the road.
The images inside the rear view mirror of tragedies untold and small triumphs seem miniscule, but never out of sight.
Yet, there is a longing for those times to resurge and the people and places to come alive to you at your disposal; the fantasy and hope of taking whats good out of those days, and leaving the regrets behind rushes to you as you ponder what could have been.
- Hashim S.
Staring back, reflecting and blink my eyes to focus on whats ahead on the road.
The images inside the rear view mirror of tragedies untold and small triumphs seem miniscule, but never out of sight.
Yet, there is a longing for those times to resurge and the people and places to come alive to you at your disposal; the fantasy and hope of taking whats good out of those days, and leaving the regrets behind rushes to you as you ponder what could have been.
- Hashim S.
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Ammi, Madre, Mama, Hooyo
Ammi, Madre, Mama, this is for you Hooyo,
For you we’ll always be so loyal.
Even though you are a Queen, you’re more than royal.
You have done everything to make us the best, your hard work I won’t spoil.
My love for you goes deeper than the earth’s soil, and richer than its oil…..
Oh, the days have come and gone, and the time has flown.
From youth hood to adulthood, you are all we have known.
Your children are now grown, and almost all on their own.
You gave us the freedom to roam as long as we did not do things you would not condone,
If we have hooyo, we will sure soon atone.
Still we leave you not alone,
Your phone is still labeled Home - to show that we still acknowledge your throne.
Your closer to us than our bone, in our hearts you are sewn.
Words can’t describe you, not even thousands of poems.
Hashim S.
12/29/09
For you we’ll always be so loyal.
Even though you are a Queen, you’re more than royal.
You have done everything to make us the best, your hard work I won’t spoil.
My love for you goes deeper than the earth’s soil, and richer than its oil…..
Oh, the days have come and gone, and the time has flown.
From youth hood to adulthood, you are all we have known.
Your children are now grown, and almost all on their own.
You gave us the freedom to roam as long as we did not do things you would not condone,
If we have hooyo, we will sure soon atone.
Still we leave you not alone,
Your phone is still labeled Home - to show that we still acknowledge your throne.
Your closer to us than our bone, in our hearts you are sewn.
Words can’t describe you, not even thousands of poems.
Hashim S.
12/29/09
Rise Up Africa
I'm not a poet, call me a word mechanic.
Thoughts is trans-atlantic,
At times my words can be frantic; volcanic; sorta schizophrenic.
But I got it under control, dont panic.
Listen up to this 'Afro-America', even if u cant stand it.
Hear it loud and clear.
Open up your ears, free them from suspicion.
Food for thought, take it as nutrition.
I'm not really here to put you at a disposition,
but I can if i have to, if you don't listen.
Its my ambition to break you out of your oh-so comfortable position,
And teach you the current state and history of the this red, white and blue tradition.
Get your pencil and papers out, this schools free of tuition.
They not tellin you what's correct.
Look at the signs and try to connect,
Dont be like the others who try to neglect.
Try to retain dignity and self respect.
Because we've been at the bottom for so long,
Longing for home since Marcus, yeah its definitely been so long.
We reminisce on the days of Mansa and how we used to be so strong.
If you ask me, assimilation has took its toll on the people of the continent.
Without consent, they've erased our cultures and descent.
Kinda funny how through all this torment,
A couple of programs, and all of a sudden we became content.
DISCRIMINATION STILL EXISTS.
RACISM STILL EXISTS.
Ohh... The Lies they invent.
Yeah Barack is President,
Yet...We're still at the bottom like cement,
And STILL get the littlest percent.
We're at the lowest of lows.
We've got to grow.
Out of this concrete like Tupac's rose.
Even in this darkness, our faces still glow.
Every dog has his day is how the saying goes,
I guess no one can have everyday I suppose.
We remain average joe's,
Fit in average clothes,
Oppressed.......
Not like they did to Martin and his protests,
But Somebody should turn the knob, or we'll bust out this hose.
If not, I feel like one day we'll expode.
With the current, like a river...... we should flow.
Joining the ocean to release, cleanse ourselves from our head to our toes.
Clean the blood sweat and tears is a debt to our ancestors that we owe.
People of color need to wake up, it's a nightmare, not a dream.
The American dream is not what it seems.
Unless you want to head to your own mental and spiritual foreclosure,
Don't fall into its scheme.
Try to fight it and they'll label you extreme.
These traps are set to benefit only the corruptest regimes.
- Hashim
12/22/09
Copyright © 2009
Thoughts is trans-atlantic,
At times my words can be frantic; volcanic; sorta schizophrenic.
But I got it under control, dont panic.
Listen up to this 'Afro-America', even if u cant stand it.
Hear it loud and clear.
Open up your ears, free them from suspicion.
Food for thought, take it as nutrition.
I'm not really here to put you at a disposition,
but I can if i have to, if you don't listen.
Its my ambition to break you out of your oh-so comfortable position,
And teach you the current state and history of the this red, white and blue tradition.
Get your pencil and papers out, this schools free of tuition.
They not tellin you what's correct.
Look at the signs and try to connect,
Dont be like the others who try to neglect.
Try to retain dignity and self respect.
Because we've been at the bottom for so long,
Longing for home since Marcus, yeah its definitely been so long.
We reminisce on the days of Mansa and how we used to be so strong.
If you ask me, assimilation has took its toll on the people of the continent.
Without consent, they've erased our cultures and descent.
Kinda funny how through all this torment,
A couple of programs, and all of a sudden we became content.
DISCRIMINATION STILL EXISTS.
RACISM STILL EXISTS.
Ohh... The Lies they invent.
Yeah Barack is President,
Yet...We're still at the bottom like cement,
And STILL get the littlest percent.
We're at the lowest of lows.
We've got to grow.
Out of this concrete like Tupac's rose.
Even in this darkness, our faces still glow.
Every dog has his day is how the saying goes,
I guess no one can have everyday I suppose.
We remain average joe's,
Fit in average clothes,
Oppressed.......
Not like they did to Martin and his protests,
But Somebody should turn the knob, or we'll bust out this hose.
If not, I feel like one day we'll expode.
With the current, like a river...... we should flow.
Joining the ocean to release, cleanse ourselves from our head to our toes.
Clean the blood sweat and tears is a debt to our ancestors that we owe.
People of color need to wake up, it's a nightmare, not a dream.
The American dream is not what it seems.
Unless you want to head to your own mental and spiritual foreclosure,
Don't fall into its scheme.
Try to fight it and they'll label you extreme.
These traps are set to benefit only the corruptest regimes.
- Hashim
12/22/09
Copyright © 2009
Dont call me a Poet
It’s easy to construct words into poems.
It’s easy to assemble thoughts on to paper.
It’s time to turn those same words into action.
Twenty odd years this fire has been burning.
Souls destroyed, dreams shattered,
Children born then are now adults in their own right,
Yet treated as if they are still children mentally,
Even though they don’t look like children physically.
The rifles they carry on their shoulders says differently.
The Youth need a voice or else they will tread into the blind road,
Not knowing the difference of what is good and what is good for right for now.
They take up arms because that is what they have been supplied.
The rifle is the judge, jury, and executioner.
It’s also one of the quickest answers to the problems of life.
They won’t compromise because they don’t know what is right and what is wrong,
They won’t compromise because they need immediate success,
Rather than success built by a foundation for the future.
It is survival of the fittest, leaving the community prone to death and destruction –
Men, women, and children who just want to live life peacefully.
The words of poets agonize me.
I believe in action over words, work over thought.
In retrospect, I do believe that through positive words,
Action can truly be inspired within a person –
The rest is up to the person – to follow through and change the world.
It’s easy to assemble thoughts on to paper.
It’s time to turn those same words into action.
Twenty odd years this fire has been burning.
Souls destroyed, dreams shattered,
Children born then are now adults in their own right,
Yet treated as if they are still children mentally,
Even though they don’t look like children physically.
The rifles they carry on their shoulders says differently.
The Youth need a voice or else they will tread into the blind road,
Not knowing the difference of what is good and what is good for right for now.
They take up arms because that is what they have been supplied.
The rifle is the judge, jury, and executioner.
It’s also one of the quickest answers to the problems of life.
They won’t compromise because they don’t know what is right and what is wrong,
They won’t compromise because they need immediate success,
Rather than success built by a foundation for the future.
It is survival of the fittest, leaving the community prone to death and destruction –
Men, women, and children who just want to live life peacefully.
The words of poets agonize me.
I believe in action over words, work over thought.
In retrospect, I do believe that through positive words,
Action can truly be inspired within a person –
The rest is up to the person – to follow through and change the world.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Thoughts of a Predicate
This is not my world, I just live in it. I want to write not blog, I don't know the definition of blog. My name is not important, but hopefully my thoughts will be - if not to you, then maybe another.
This is my blog, and if you like it, save this page so you can read in the future.
- H
This is my blog, and if you like it, save this page so you can read in the future.
- H
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