SUFI POETRY IN SOMALI

Line ~.

Line ~.

208.

The poet refers here to the alliteration used

throughout the poem. The alliterative sound is

the Somali consonant ~, to which he gives the name

of the Arabic letter QAF. Note that this letter

represents a consonant in Arabic which closely

resembles the Somali g.

The poet refers to some of the remedies which are

prescribed for the sick in Somali traditional

medicine. For example, if some one is seriously

ill, his relatives may consult a pious shaikh, who,

in most cases, is also an adept in traditional

medicine; and they may ask him to treat the sick

person. Among the cures the shaikh may prescribe

is an amulet which consists of a small leather

pouch containing a piece of paper with a quotation

of the Qurari. The sick person wears the amulet

while he is sick and may even keep it on long

after he gets well. The shaikh may also advise his

patient to drink an ink potion. This so-called

ink potion is prepared by writing quotations from

the Quran in a bOWl with a locally produced ink

that contains such ingredients as myrrh, sugar

and charcoai. As the ink dries out, it is washed

off with water; and the mixture, which is now

regarded to have acquired supernatural healing

effect, is given to the patient.

Line 14. The poet alludes to the cleansing hut which is

built in order to purify the dead body before it

is buried.