Paragon Posted June 13, 2002 SWEETNESS & BITTERNESS (For B. W. Andrzejewski) Without contraries is no progression —Blake Do I contradict myself? Very well, then, I contradict myself, (I am large, I contain multitudes). —Whitman 1 Sometimes even the aloes Bear honeyed flowers Whose nectar you slurp I am sweetness & bitterness Planted in the same place. ll My right hand and left hand are twins: One entertains the guests and walks the weak; The other is daggers dripping woes & wormwood. lll My son, I am rich, I contain countless contraries: Do not take me For a poor monomaniac Out on a limb Hectoring for his bloody hobby-horse. lV Sometimes I am faithfully obedient, Well-mannered, Utterly innocent of evil: And sometimes I am the obdurate destroyer, An arrant knave. V Sometimes I am the anchorite Who sequesters himself in the mosque To review his life and purify his heart: And sometimes I am the villain, The loony Who blusters in every saloon in Somalia: "Go to now. I'll prove thee With mighty-mouthed Evil Till my cup runneth over With contumely and crazy Àasha." Vl Sometimes I am The towering heads Of wit, wisdom, eloquence, Of honor, & forbearance: And Sometimes I am The loafer The nowhere man With no name in the street. Vll Sometimes I am A man who does not allow anything unkosher Go past his gullet: And sometimes I am A thief dyed-in-the-wool Who does not spare Even the orphan's share. Vlll Sometimes I am The leader Of high-ranking saints and sages: And sometimes I am An honorable member Of Satan's conclave-- After the fiend's very own heart. lX A presumptuous Jack Cannot size me up For I run interference for chameleons For I keep school for chameleons. Daily I turn: Every morning My complexion is distinctly Of different color & creed. I know how to hobnob With both Muslims And With heathen honky monkey alien infidels: The angels of Hell and Heaven Argue over my soul. X No man has traced to me All these contraries I trail; But a man of many days, One whose head is hoary, Or One who is hip To sizing men up May possibly Take my proper measure. Xl O everyman Jack, Pick your sweetest, Most apt metaphor To brand me with: Ride the hobby-horse Your heart hobbles after, Or The one you can't help but Tease me with. Speak Right on; Ride on For I make ways For you: Please, Take your choice. ……………… i. A demogouge, an afmieeshaar — i.e. he whom the Somalis perceive to be a saw-mouthed sage, who attempted to cruelly caricature, castrate and crucify the formidable Somali Issaaq poet, Qaasim, a.k.a Ahmed Ismaeel Deeriye, attempting to write him off as mere mug-turned-blotto! Qaasim's parry, his riposte, his refutation of the attack on his reputation, which became Qaasim's classic, much-celebrated signature song. Macaan iyo Qaraar: as distinguished and as famous as Frank Sinatra's classic signature song I Did it My Way. Macaan iyo Qaraar is well-known to all the glitteratti, to all the cognoscenti, to all the connoisseurs of Somalia's current literary scene. It is for this reason that I rendered it into English in the summer of 1986, at The Montreal World Poetry Festival. It was later featured in the now defunct Montreal literary review, Zymergy, to which I contributed poems and essays during the late '80s and early '90s, when I served on its editorial board. …………………………….. Another version of the story behind this now internationally famous Somali song goes as follows: Qaasim the Somali poet was once asked by his exasperated Isaaq clansmen: "Qaasim! Who are you? Are you the poet the Somali nation is most proud of Or are you the jerk the drunk the bum the katcrazy the katcrushing Eedoar the crazywater consumer the dweller of ditches & gutters we pick up every dawn before the call of the muezzin from the ditch from the gutter?" It is my pleasure and delight now to share with you all, Qaasim's riposte, Qaasim's Apologia Pro Vita Sua translated into English by this Somali Abgal bushman! ---------------------------------- ii. Margaret Laurence wrote in her celebrated The Prophet's Camel Bell (1963): "Goosh — whose real name was Bogomil and whose nickname was pronounced 'Goosh' — happened to be Polish, a tall man with an expressive and almost oriental face, high cheekbones and faintly slanted eyes. He was a poet in his own language." Bogomil W. Andrzejewski, the late and lamented scholar and dean of international Somali studies, taught at the London School of Oriental Languages. He was a friend of mine who shared this poem with me in Somali so I could translate it into English. With his wife, Sheila, he also translated the same Somali song into English. Compare my version with their more philological and scholarly version. This can be found in their excellent book, An Anthology of Somali Poetry (pages 88-89), published in 1993. My friend Goosh spoke Somali better than I, a native Somali! Another case of that famous contradiction where the teacher becomes the student! He was most instrumental in the search for and eventual discovery of, a written form of the wild savage Somali tongue, in 1972. I will never forget what Goosh said to me in his London home in 1986, when I told him my name was now John Drinkwater. Whereas before I was infamous as Qaasim, as Sir John Barleycorn! Goosh's reaction became a memorable Somali saying: "waxaa tahai Nin libaax qaathay Oo laga dhigay!" "You are a man nabbed by a lion that was forced to drop you none the worse for the nasty nabbing! Would that the lion would drop more And more Somalis! Sir John drinkwater, let us toast to that! Lakhaaim! To life!" iii. The Somali rum which renders one exalted. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CARTAN Posted June 14, 2002 Kaamila, Bal soo laabad wacan marka hore, kuna soo dhawoow qolka Haasaawaha iyo Hawraarta Guud ee maddasha. Sidda aad sheegtayba, waa iska hawl adduun oo qofba wayahaa meel ka tuuray, annaguna koley kula mid ayaan ahayn,arrin lagu mashquulliyo meertada adduunkaa, lagu kala maqnaa. Dabcan meesha waxaa ka dhaqdhaqaaqayey waa sxb-keen Jamaal-11, oo asagu daddaalkiisii halkaas ka soo watey inteena kale waan daad raacnay, laakiinse lagga soo laabbey. Kaamila, wax meeshan ka socdey iyo wax ku socdey kama aan war qabbin, mudaddii aan meesha ka maqnaa, anni xattaa annoo marti ku ah intaan,ayaa Asxaabteenu igu soo dhaweeyeen. Marka ayadoo ay saas tahay ayaa waxaa xussuusteyda ku soo dhacay, ayadoo aan is-weydiiyey Halka aad addu( Kaamila ahaan ) ka dhacday? waxaan is-irri armaa lagaba yaabbaa in Gabartii la arroosay...Lool , Taasina suuro gal waa noqon weysey, oo wax uunbaan ka ogaan lahaa haddii ey xaajo saas u-dhici lahayd. Marka bal soo dhawoow Kaamila...Waa laguu darsadeeeee.. ....SCS. :cool: _________________________________________ _________________CARTAN__________________ MAALINTII NIN JOOGGIYO MAANKEYGA CALAFKIIS!! HA QOOMAMMEYN HANNA QUUSSAN!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kamila Posted June 14, 2002 Salaams all, X.... qatar ayaa tahay walaahi waan ka heylay poemkaas aad soo qortay waxaana isku dayayaa in aan xafido kor aan ka barto haduu ilaah ii idmo, Jamaal as usely laguuma gali karo marba marka ka danbeeyso waxaad soo qortaa gabayba gabayga uu ka daran yahay walaahi qatar cadiim ayaan ku dhahay, Cartan Cade Waad ku mahad san tahay sida wacan ee aad iigu soo dhaweeysay adigana sidoo kale waan kugu soo dhaweeynayaa madaama sida anigoo kale aad uga maqneed boga,,, mashquul aduunyo darteed marka hadeer waxaan filayaa in aad soo labatay sidii caadiga eheed lakiinse cartan su'aal habeeneey laqaba ma soo gali karto halkaan miyaa....lol? asxaabta aan la qabin lee miyaa loogu tala galay walaalo iyaa maba ogeene saase...lol!!? Lakiinse Gacalo Maandeeq inteey ka baxday ayaantaan ma arkooyiyi ayadana waxaan aheen the futare wife's of Jamaal (bidaardheere..lol)!. waa ismaqal danbe oo xiise leh akhyaareey, ___________________________________ dhagdheer dhimatooy dhulkii nabadee Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
X.Playa Posted June 15, 2002 Jamaal, Waad ku mahadsantahay sheekadaas Goosh laakiin waxanan la fahamayn inta dambe ee dhex martay Goosh iyo Margert Lawrence iyo sheekada wax soo galiyey. Gabayga iyo Tarjumada waa kala laba markaad u fiirsatid, sidan hoos ku qorayba: Sometimes I seem a learned man of God Who retreats in ascetic zeal to a seclude sanctuary Somalia text: Mar baan ahay muftiga saahidnimo mawlaca u galaye 2- I am counted as one of the elders of the clan, Esteemed for my wisdom, tact and skill in argument Somali Text: Mar baan ahay murti iyo baanisaba madaxa reerah'e Tuducana wuu ka mqanyey gabayga oo wuxu ku xigaa marku leeyay: Masaalooyin talantaaliyaan maandho leeyahaye *Nin majiire keliya uun qabsaday hay malaynina'e. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
X.Playa Posted June 15, 2002 Somali Halqabsi " quotations" Haddaad Dhimato Geeridu marbay nolosha dhaantaaye Dhaqashiyo marbay kaa yihiin dhereggu xaaraane Dhadhan malaha aadmigu wuxuu kugu dhalliilaaye Nin dharbaxo qudheed dugsaday dhaqayaded maalye Dhashaaday sugtaa xaajadaad dhawrataa abade (Salaan Carrabay) Geeluba Ugaasooy hadduu ayda miranaayo Abeerkiisa naaxiyo hadduu aaranku is waayo Isaguba ma kala aamusee waysu ololaaye (Cabdi Gahayr). Nin qatani nin qada haysta waa inu ka qaadaaye Qasnadaha harraatiya wuxuunbaa ka soo qubanne (Cabdi Gahayr) Madi cararta maqasheda koris minawsan ba dhaanta Xididkii an maamuus lahayn malihi baa dhaanta Marwo Camal xun Maangaab ninkeed maqasha baa dhaanta Muslinnimo ninkaan kuula socon muumminnimo khaasa Gaal maxasta kuu dhawra ood magansataa dhaama (Dirir Warsame) Qosol beena fool wada qayaxan qiil an garanaayo Booraan afkii laga qafilay qabarna hooseeyo Maanaa mindiyo lay qarshaa laygu qali doono (Faarax Nuur) Hadii adhi qamaamo qatimay, helo qabaal buuxa Qaraabo iyo wuxu ehel lahaaa waa ka qabar daare Qoorto la jeediyo iyo dhagto la qabto mooyaane Nina qeylo kuma yaacin karo qoon qabawsadaye (Maxamed Ismaacil) Garab duub haddii loo xidhoo gaarna ka ahaato Gacantii nin muguriyaa waa gumurataaye Nin walaalkii geed ugu jiraa gesi noqon waaye (Cabdi Suldaan Timacade) Wakhatiga ii hayee Jadamiyaw kuma wareersheene Walaal kuma idhaahdeen intaaan wiiqa so dhigo'e Nin wanaag arkaa marbuu waayo xidhayaaye. (Guuleed DhooloYare). ................................................. Kamila good luck sister, inkastoo aad gabaygu u dheerayahe, laakiin anigu waxan kuugula talin lahaa "halqabsiyo" ka xafid gabayada. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Paragon Posted June 18, 2002 Thank you Ex-Playa, waad ku mahadsantahay hal qabsiyadaas .......... You left me struggling; in love's dark eclipse Now i long for you, from the red sky of morn to the red-sky of sunset, itching arms that miss to stroke the curve of your body. You smiles, surprises and how your hair danced in summers breaze. It hasn't been time since i dreamt of you, though last night you visited me. You whispered; come here, its me Follow me to lover's paradise. But all i saw was a red sarung flagging, as I stepped on each trail till i was lost How I chased you miles in desert dunes, as the wind blended with dust went round, maraboo's circling with it,floating mating with a devil as myth says. I should have known the true you, as the daughter of satan. You never acted human like me, you never slept or stayed over at night By JamaaL-11 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Starlight Posted June 21, 2002 Heeeeeey y'all how are you doing?? Wow i have been gone for a minute but alot has changed. I see some new faces wow welcome....maybe i'm the one that supposed to be welcomed here..lol But i'm glad fill me in what has changed??? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Paragon Posted June 25, 2002 @@@@ @@@@@@@@@/||// ~~~|/= /| I give you a rose ... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Paragon Posted June 28, 2002 <centeThe thought of you draws a pretty face Even the green fields i rode past to work Now are yellow and chant your praises Birds sing to me and say "she is the one for you" But the devil drives me away from hope to meet you A hug maybe, kiss or even smile of you is what i need To heal my heart, to nuture my soul as it should be You are the one who can stop my heart to bleed When i'm tense, stressed and giving up hope! The winds whisper and say we are messengers from her Don't give up they say, say whats in your heart Maybe she feels your pain and has love for you How is she to know i ask? How my soul suffers? She is more than you think, she is your angel they say Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Starlight Posted July 15, 2002 }Untitled{ Its a splended afternoon The sun is about to set The night will come soon and so will the mooon The mood i'm in right now i can not really describe what i feel cant be put in words And i'm feeling a strange vibe My heart is racing with time My pulse is very high My worries are up above oh , how strange it can be what they call love My emotions have been confusing They have been up and down all day Its like they have been amusing This thing they call the lovers play To see you before i sleep to hold you when i awake to make that giant leap all that for love's sake when you are sad, i feel so bad when you are dissapointed i feel so sad i'm hurting cant you see could you please leave those emotions be. My love is only for thee.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Paragon Posted July 17, 2002 Waw Starlight....that a girl. Where you been my sister....we missed your tentalising poems. Happy to have you back in track. More poetry please! Thank you PS: i will respond to you ... with a similarly composed poem. Images and scenery make a poem more better Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Paragon Posted July 17, 2002 Defeated by love I lock all my doors every single day Curtain dark each window all the way. Block the holes and all the ventilaters Make it hard for this love to enter But it finds its way into my daily life And In every way that i try to remain safe Not a single effort holds it at bay --- I cannot avoid it anymore, am consumed Am shot with love by a beautiful stranger Who comes walking behind the path i trail With mysterious beauty that invites curiousity I see her everywhere, talking pure poetry Whispering close to my ear, hypnotising So shall i follow the scent that i smell? Coz day may come soon to see if its a dream If i'm lost in a dream like a star, she twinkles Like a bright star across skies that winks at me Which vanishes as the sun take the morning sky Waving faintly, smilling kissing me good bye So i ask, are you that star, one full of light? And every evening as the sun sets good bye Do you twinkle again up in the sky saying hi! For you starlight..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Paragon Posted July 18, 2002 My love is only for thee Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Starlight Posted July 19, 2002 Ohh jamaal that is such a sweet poem. I missed you guys too...its been awhile but i'm back on track. WIth more poems insha allah Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Starlight Posted July 19, 2002 to jamaal-11 Each time i enter this site You have away of keeping me recite this god given talent you have with words Not a single word that came out of your mouth was unheard, Defeated you were by love I try to do my best and watch you from up above close your curtains, shield the windows, lock the door Turn your back on love, lock your emotions within But whatever WILL love has trust me it will begin. How can anyone not fall in love with you If they dont admit it to themselves they are being untrue For goodness sakes you are jamaal-11 It feels as if you were sent to me from heaven If the star could make one wish come true believe me that wish would be you when the night is dark and the stars are shining look up in heaven and you will find my guiding I will be the brightest star that shines your way guide you safely home till the brake of day and tonight if you fall asleep before i appear in your dreams Jamaal you will see me clear Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
