SUFI POETRY IN SOMALI

28. 
    


29. 
    

    3'0.

    
    


30. 
    

    3'2.
    3,3 •

    
    


31. 
    


32. 
    


33. 
    


34. 
    


35. 
    


36. 
    


37. 
    


38. 
    

    4'2 •

    
    

He never uttered an evil word against him

o Prophet, may the blessing

And peace [of God] be upon you

His mind and his breast

Were cleansed of [all] impurities

o Prophet, may the blessing

And peace [of God] be upon you

Even if a person stood behind him

He could.perceive him in [the mirror of

his heart].

o Prophet, may the blessing

And peace [of God] be upon you

His laughter never exceeded

The baring of his teeth

o Prophet, may the blessing

And pea~e [of God] be upon you

Textual Notes

128.

Lines 1-2. These two lines act as a refrain; and ~lthough

they are Arabic in origin, they have been

incorporated into the Somali language and

would be understood even by a person not

familiar with Arabi~.

Lines 1-42. There are two other versions of this poem: one

in Lewis 1958, pp.144-5 (with only minor diver-

gences) and another in Sheekh Caaqib's collection.