SUFI POETRY IN SOMALI

Line 5~.

Line 64.

Line 7~.

144.

past fought over grazing areas and water holes.

Here the Chair and the Throne signify the

Throne of God as is indicated in this Quranic

verse: 'He is the Lord of the Mighty Throne'.

(Quran, IX, 130). The Throne can be inter-

preted in different ways in different contexts

but generally it is believed to be a represen-

tation of the supra-formal Manifestation.

On the other hand, the chair may symbolize

a formal Manifestation, namely the earth.

See notes on Text 5, Line 101.

Note the concurrent use of the traditional and

modern images of transport. These two images

(i.e. the horse and the motor car) convey the

notion of speed.

In this line, the image of the grave as a boat

evokes the idea of travelling; hence, the

phrase 'passes through' which implies the

departure of people from this world to the

next through the grave.

Lines 89-9b. The wet images in these two lines reflect the

Line 10~.

anxiety of the nomadic Somalis about the

availability of water and fresh pasture on

which their lives and the lives of tlleir herds

so much depend.

In this line, the expression 'you who do not

undo the knots of your clothes' conveys the

image of someone who, because of his diligence,

does not get much time to change his clothes

in order to relax.