Iftiin Baa Ii Soo Baxay – Ibrahim Hirsi
Awel horuu nagu dhacay cudurkuu, oodda nagu rogaye
Kedis buu ahaa isbeddelkuu, iyo lama filaane
Alla muxuu na oof jabiyey oo, aakhiro noo jeediyey
Abaaroow guriga gegida haddaa, argagax taalaaye
Kala seegtay hooyo iyo ilmo, aqalku waa yaabe
Dunidiyo arliga baa rogan waa, xaal aduuneed’e
Maxaa ab iyo tagay hooyo iyo, odayo waaweeyne
Maxaa dhalin agoomoobay iyo, cunug ababin weliye
Maxaa uurkutaallo lala go’ay, iilo lagu buuxmay
Aduunku xumbo daadeed weeye, gees walba abbaara
Kuwii oomanaa shalay haddaa, afka u buuxdaaye
Garangar orodo iyo waxay tahay, aalad socotaaye
Noo soo baxay iftiin cusub iyo, hawo udgooneed’e
Alaladu way macaantahayoo, iyo ayaamahane
Artistic Statement
The poem I have written is called ‘Abaarow guriga’, or ‘The Homes Have Become Drought Stricken’. When first writing the piece, the responses I had collated from the archive to write about were all full of grief and sadness. Not wanting to erase this important aspect of the Covid experience, yet also wanting to bring a bit of hope and light to the piece, I went through the archive again and picked out hopeful and joyful quotes as well.
The first part of the poem illustrates change: the change in psyche, in space and in experience. The second part then tackles the idea of hope, and how things can change. The final part brings in the joy and hope-filled aspect, showing people’s happiness with the vaccine.
The poem was my way of trying to weave in personal experiences, yet also try to evoke a sense of hope in a way that the Somali community would be able to resonate with.
Artist Bio
Ibrahim Hirsi is a student, writer and peer researcher for the Centre for Mental Health. A digital Somali cultural archivist and independent researcher, he is also the co-founder of WaaberiPhone. His work has been performed as part of the Bedlam Mental Health Festival, been part of the DearAyeeyo roundhouse exhibition and in the Creative but Confined exhibition.
Of Partings & Preludes – Momtaza Mehri
