Cibaaro | Phenomenon – Mohamed ‘Haykal’ Abdi
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Dunida afarteeda cidhif Muxuu cabsi baday arlada Masiibadu waa cibree Cirroole awood darraa Maxaa cisi ruux lahaa Caa’ilo aan wada jeclayn Casiis dad inoo ahaa Cagaar geyigoo ahaa |
Wax baa helay caalamkii Mudday caddilnayd kasmadu Rejada cimrigeeda iyo Dedaal culus oo la galay Kolkuu beryay waa cusubi Casiis baa mahadda lehe |
Artistic Statement
Taking part in A Drop of Hope: Poetry from a Vaccination Centre, which Poet in the City has collaborated with the Francis Crick Institute on, was an impressive opportunity for me. My new poem, ‘Cibaaro’, which means ‘Phenomenon’, widely illustrates the COVID-19 aftermath from various angles.
Written in simplistic yet rich Somali language, the poem focuses on three main points: the trauma of the virus and its impact in the beginning, our fortitude as a society during this adversity, and, ultimately, the national and international efforts of producing a vaccine that can save lives and restore hope. This poem has been written in keeping with the Somali oral poetic tradition and is aimed at eliminating any misconceptions and fears around taking the vaccine.
The last part of the poem commends the medical and scientific community for their tremendous job of bringing relief for the world after the vaccine was found and approved. This will encourage people to come forward and be vaccinated.
Artist Bio
Mohamed M. Abdi, better known as Haykal is a gifted poet, novelist, song-writer, story writer as well as a social activist. His poetry expresses and motivates the different sides of life, entertainment and building towards a successful society. Haykal is also the author of Masiibada Cagaaran a book written in Somali that explains the problems associated with Khat use within the Somali community and the most recent novel named Hanqadh. Haykal is currently based in Bristol.
Of Partings & Preludes – Momtaza Mehri
