SUFI POETRY IN SOMALI

and the author treats them then as composite .i.~. as

combinations of patterns.

An example of this system of notation is given below

in the four hemistichs of a poem of the shorter type of

the jiifto genre.^1
Gobannimada haw1yari
1 1 1 1 (1) 2 1 1
Ninna kuma he1aayee
1 1 1 1 (1) 2 2
Danihiinna haybshoo
1- 1 2 (1) 2 2

Khamri yaanu idin hodin

1 1 2 (1)1 1 1 1

No man can achieve

2

Freedom with ease

Look into your affairs

And allow not wine to lead

you astray

60.

In each genre, variations can occur in the arrangement

of units 1 and 2, and Maxamed Xaashi Dhamac expresses this

ln his formulations by placing possible alternative

sequences of syllables on both sides of the xundhur in

squar~~.- These for example are the variations possible in

the shorter type of the jiifto genre.

1 1 -1 1 2 1 1

1 1 1 1 2 2

1

1 1^2 2 2

[ __ 1_1 ~ 1 1 1 1

As is clear from this example in Somali verse, there