SUFI POETRY IN SOMALI

0101 bixi abaar qiiqday lyO, ubax gut soo

muuqday!

Flames which blaze and droughts which spread like

smoke and flowers which[al~appear in the same

spring!

(Text 25/28)

229.

During the dry season, when there is not much food or water,

the pastoralists become very thin; and as many of them lose
their body fluids, their skins become dry and taut. In this
sort of situation, when a person's body shrivels, a clarified
butter (burcad) is appliedon the parched areas of the body
in order to compensate for the loss of moisture. In the
following lines, the Prophet IS likened to the clarified
butter which renews the life of an almost withered tissue:
Burcad weel ah weeyaan
00 100 basaasay Nebigii

The Prophet is like a vessel full of

curds'

Which those who are parched crave for

(Text 8/1-2)

At night in the pastoral environment there is complete

darkness, unless it is relieved by moonlight, campfires,

lanterns or torches. Such darkness impedes movement and

can conceal dange~. For this reason, it seems, light is

appreciated as a great gift and serves as a natural symbol

for happiness, freedom from anxiety as well as knowledge and

the mystical power of leadership. The following example

illustrates this point: