enriched by religious themes which are received from the
Islamic traditio~. Thus the Somali secular poetry abounds
in allusions, pious invocations and motifs which are drawn
from the Quran and other sources of Muslim learning. For
example, in the following verses, a well-known Somali poet,
Ismaaciil Mire asserts the efficacy of the Divine Will and
expresses his passionate belief in the idea of pre-
destination:
Kulligood addoomaha Rabbow, qaybshay kimistiiye
Bad kalluun ku jira kay ku tahay, ama fijaan
kooban
Nin walba wixii 100 katibay, waa la kulansiine
In kastu kabtiyo ama kallaho, ama kur dheer fuulo
Ninna inaanu soo korodhsanayn, kaa ha la ogaado.
The Lord divides the bread amongst his slaves
Taking care of the fishes in the sea and even
of the contents of a cup
Everyone will receive what has been prescribed
for him
Even though he runs fast or sets off early in the
morning or climbs a hill
No one will gain more than his allotted portion:
let that be remembered.
(Somali Poetry, Poem 10, Lines 1-5)
The same belief is affirmed in an anonymous modern poem
which though characterized by its brevity still conveys
the powerful awe associated with the concept of pre-
destination:
- Markaan ku tashado wax taranso ba
2. Sow tii AlIa meel rna sii taal.
35.
