SUFI POETRY IN SOMALI

a certain tree. Satan watchfully ob-'

served this arrangement and began to work

on attracting ADAM and t~WAOto eat the

fruit of the Forbidden Tree. Initially,

his efforts failed when each time he was

warded off by a guarding Angel referred to

as ~ worthy one' in Line 199. Finally

87.

Satan collaborated with the serpent who took

his insidious message and delivered it to

Lines 204-216. In these lines the serpent delivers his

message to BAW~who is puzzled by the story.

In/convincing a manner the serpent makes UAWA0

think that ADAM has another wife who meets

him when she is away from the house.

Lines 217-232. According to Islamic tradition, when I;IAJtiP

heard the disturbing story, she set out

quickly and hurried towards the forbidden

tree. As she went along, she came across

a river and she stood cin its bank. She

looked at the water; and for the first time,

she saw her reflection, which she thought

to be the other woman. Her suspicion was

reinforced by what she saw near the river,

and she walked straight to the Forbidden

Tree and picked up some fruit which she

ate. As she did that, blood flowed from

her body. Moreover, it is because of the

fruit she consumed that caused her female

offspring to suffer such punishments as