Home

I have heard the word “home” spoken around me 
more often than any other word in my lifetime;
heard it spoken thick with longing,
my mother’s tongue; slick with the accent of her ancestors,
her dialect still potent, fragrant; lingering. 

We are the sons and daughters of lands 
That will always be called “home,”
The children whose skin lays testament to a place
We may never have known,
Who in broken attempts at our mother tongues;
Still claim the lands that expelled us.

We are the in-betweeners -
Lost in a space between being and belonging;
The lingering roots of a tree pulled from its soil,
We are sired to ‘homes’ we have never been to,
Pained by memories we can never lay claim to;
More loyal to the ‘homes’ we have left
than the lands we have moved to;

We are here, but we are not.
We are here, but we are not.

Farah Gabdon

A Measured Life

Under the darkness of night I met the moon
Whose light dazzled upon my feet
Bringing to light the empty garden
With the shadows of a single tomato tree

Framed by the high walls like a precious painting
Long before the papaya tree
And the madness of the cotton plants in the garden
The birth and death of a tree
The absence or illumination of the moon
The screams under the cover of night
A woman, a man, a life, a death
A woman tonight
And I spewed my dinner on the cool concrete floor
As Hooyo ran to rescue the screaming stranger
And my father ran to rescue her
I was left watching the moonlight dance on my bare feet
Where my dinner now half lay

This is how I measure my life

Written by: Jamala Ali

Qolof diin diin

Diin dal qaladeed ku dayaamay
Dunida oo idil darbi ka dugsaday
Damacsan in uu ka duulo balse qolof ku daboolantahay
Dadkii difaaci lahaa oo diirka laga siibaayay
Dabbaal qowlkiisu uu doolar nogday

Qol yar maskaxdiisi ku soo qufulay
Qabyaalad qayaxani ay qalbiga ka qisaastay
Qawm dhan oo dawakhsan oo ay baddu qarqisay
Qabriga badda ayay ku qulqulayaane way ka qawmamayne
Qaadirka iyo qadarka ayaaney qiimayne oo way soo qalafanyihiine
Qolof dusha ma'ahee aan qiime kale lahayne

Maangaab magaalo iyo miskiin u miciyaystay
Maskax iyo maan toona aan lamaanayne
Musuq maasaq ayaan dunida meel koobaad ka galnaye.

By: Ahmed Suleiman

My night anthem

I hear voices in my head that says I am free 

I ask myself questions but I try to let it be 

Escaping is not an alternative so listen to me 

Why pressure my blood to the highest degree 

I mean, I studied science and got the best degree 

Why everything has to be complicated? 

In physics we studied about space as we calculated 

Teachers explained endless times until my ears got cursed 

Why explain about space when there is no where to breath

I live in an overpopulated city called Malmö, hard to get meth 

I live in a violent city where you get knocked by the police

The streets are crying for justice please allow me to sneezeAs a young I memorized a lot, From Coranic verses to fair tales from grandma and grandpaBut there is this one that poppes up in my mind every time I try to rhyme 

War goordir goodir dabahuwaa 

War laangaloole     dabahuwaa 

War mayla diiran    dabahuwaa 

Kula diiran maayo  dabahuwaa 

War bayla bayla     dabahuwaa 

War bayla Jaamac  dabahuwaa……

This could be my night anthem 

An inner voice taking me to Bethlehem 

I might be a fugitive but definitely not from Harlem 

The overwhelming dust making me invisible 

I come from culture where poetry is stable 

Children recite their own poems as a fable

See, endless poems is never liable 

What everybody recites is reliable 

Sure they deserve plenty of medals

It ain’t easy as collecting apples 

But hey:

Don’t you realize they are talented

I am not saying they title themselves but they are selected 

By people's choice they are elected

Somehow they are suspected without being reflected 

Talented is what they are,

You might wonder how they got protected 

Guess what, they are respected 

Anyways who said talk about them as an object

Objection: this leads to debate about how things can be sophisticated, confiscated 

Now, we are not talkin about land grabbing, 

We are talking about rapping, call it yawning, Jaaaw because I'm bouncing

Written by: Abdirisak Osman

My daughter

First and foremost you carry the legacy of women 

Who were battered and bruised 

So that you may know their triumph, come to hear their truth 

Years of being made to feel nothing less than a second class citizen.

Their to only bring up their seed 

But they stood up, came forth 

Like a well-controlled army and conquered 

So now every day I get to feel their triumph and

Know that when my daughter says to me 

Mother 'how shall I be?

I will say, you my love carry the legacy of women before you 

You will learn to carry joy in you smile 

And a light in your eyes 

For you, my dearest, are the descendants of Women of Antiquity  

Ikram Ahmed Awaale

Copyright © 2014

Tonight

Tonight is a drunk man,
his dirty shirt.

There is no couple chatting by the recycling bins,
offering to help me unload my plastics.

There is not even the black and white cat
that balances elegantly on the lip of the dumpster.

There is only the smell of sour breath. Sweat on the collar of my shirt.
A water bottle rolling under a car.
Me in my too-small pajama pants stacking juice jugs on neighbors’ juice jugs.

I look to see if there is someone drinking on their balcony.

I tell myself I will wave.

Ladan Osman

[Credit: Poetryfoundation.com]

Talo

Talo waa tii shalay
Midina waa ta bariye
Tan maanta maanka dagtay
Ayaa maqal iga mudane

Tartanku baday
Tanaazulkuna yaraaye
Eebow talada toosi
Tubtana tabac

Taan dooni iyo taad tilmaanantayba
Tirtiirsanka maanku toobiyaye
Tijaabadu tix-raac mooyee
Tol ma tidicdee
Tabartuna yaraataye
Allow tiirkaad jeceshahay
noo dooroo
Teena danbe wanaaji

Written by: Muxyidin Sayid

Getting Back Up

When I got the worst news ever that shook my heart 

And threatened to steal everything from me 

How someone destroy my life so easily?

So carelessly

Then I remembered that only Allah can do that 

They were lying and trying to scare me 

If my life will be destroyed than let Allah do that me 

They could not do that 

So, I steadied my heart and dried my tears

Picked up my sword from the floor 

Ready to fight for what is most important to me

Test of strength of will 

My defense is my faith 

If they want to take my life than we can fight

To their shock and surprise 

That I stood up after that near death experience 

Quickly planned my war strategy 

Where are you going? 

Are you walking away? 

Just like that?

I thought that we were going to fight.

I had planned everything. 

I put everything on hold just to beat you

A burning wrath that was like a hurricane

Turn me in someone that has nothing to lose

Gathering all my resources and reinforcements

Oh well-I guess I can put away my sword. 

Send a prayer

The only one that destroy my destiny is Allah

So always get up even if it hurts 

Because thank Allah that you can still get up

In your worst tragedies, faith will get you to walk through the storm

*Best day Ever

- Sindiya Darman

Cycle of pain

Pain has numbed my senses

My poetry is filled with grief

Will a lover seek joy in me?

I take courage to face this

Past, its fire erupt my soul

Will God calm it with peace?

My fear hums in silence, as

Sorrow echoes my voice

Will I wake up from this?

Words and stories prompt me

To re-live cycle of sadness

Will I ever overcome this?

I gaze up to purify this nafs

With remorse from Him

Will His Mercy befall me?

Sam Said

Copyright © 2014

One day I will Rise

You now lock me in detention

and damage my hopes

but it’s like dust and one day I will rise.

You may avoid my sadness

and send me to Manus

but one day I will rise.

You may hide the reality

and break my heart

but one day I will rise.

You may send me somewhere else.

Why can’t you help me?

I may be a female of under age

who needs assistance from you.

You may send me to other countries a

nd shoot me with your words

but one day I will rise.

You may punish me

by saying lies

but one day I will rise.

You may kill me with your hateful action

but it’s like air

and one day I will rise.

You may never care about my awful past

and enjoy my tears

but one day I will rise.

I may have bad memories

rooted in pain

but one day I will rise.

I may have left a fearful life of horror

but one day I will rise.

Does my mind upset you

so full of thoughts?

I am an asylum seeker

who seeks for freedom and doesn’t have anywhere else to go.

Does it come as a surprise to you

that whatever you have done to me

I will forgive you?

Wherever you send me

as long as I see the sun rise and the moon come up

I will rise…

Written by: Hani Aden

Survivor!!

When I feel the worst I hope for the best.

 When I am weak I pretend to be the strongest.

 When the entire world is against me I hide my cardiac arrest.

Yes I am a survivor!!

 When my ship sinks I hold my tear.

 When the pain slices me I disown my fear.

 When you think that I gave up, I reappear.

Yes I am a survivor!!

 When you crash my dreams I grow stronger.

 When you rip my heart that I will rise with anger.

 When you think you broke me that I hold my head higher.

Yes I am a survivor!!

Aisha Afrah

Copyright © 2014

October 2nd 2011

It is October and no chills just yet.

The Londoners have already packed up for winter;

boots, hats, ear muffs and coats.

The last week has ruined our plans,

with the suprising summers weather and humid of days.

We were not ready but made use of the fortunate turn of weather.

-Random like life.

This reminds us that everything is unpredictable

and our feeble souls have no power;

except to accept

and go with what is handed to us.

Rejoice in sun, good-times and happiness.

And rub warm for the approaching sinister cold.

It is October and no chills have come yet.

I am 22 and still in awe of time, destiny and the unfolding history everyday;

Like the turbulent weather in the tide of life I have clashed with another.

When avoidance of connecting with others electric impulses is what I strayed from.

-Running away from any form of deepth has been my safety net of falls.

It is October and it has been 365 days times 2;

since I truely looked at another human being and saw Life,

instead of the inner death of me.

The trees are sunlit and confused with their autumn maroon jem-coloured leaves.

They feel submerged with the warm comfort shinning on them.

I know too well of their multitude of thoughts.

The grass is cooling but not anymore refreshing then knowing;

not one singular hair of grass was here last year.

-As my pain peaks-Randomized;

of all the little words, the razor-cuts and the larger knife stabs

of the hurt, the tears and emptiness.

Every piece of grass are like these.

And my awe stretches as I comprehend;

that one day all the darkness inside

shall be replaced by new grass.

Grass infantry in its roots but more well nurtured,

than my flowers and weeds through my adolences.

It is the second day of October,

and the cold has not hit just yet.

This day will go.

This time will go.

And it will never be that warm wonderful day in October again.

Amina A Mohamed

Maanso: Adeer

Adeero Adeero aduunka

Dhibkiisa aloosan adeero

Allow uu ku seego adeero.

Wixii intifaac leh adeero

Ammaan iyo raaxo adeero

Agtaada ahaade adeero.

Markaad ilmo dhaafto adeero

Aqoontana dhawroo adeero

Aakhiro ha hilmaamin adeero.

Abkaa waalidkaana adeero

Inkaartood awood leh adeero

Xaqooda ilaali adeero.

Adduunka dushiisa adeeroInaad arli leeday adeero

Ogsoonow wadankaaga adeero.

Afrika dacalkeeda adeero

Inaad ku aroorto adeero

Adigu ha iloobin adeero.

Adan Dirie

01/14/13

Amaal Said

Mother says I will know what disappointment
is when I am the God-fearing mother of one
who does not pray.

Somehow I became the daughter who owned legs that had
not prostrated in months.

I carried a mouth dirty with no room left for praise
until the ones that loved me turned bad.

‘Look at that one there’ I heard my friends say.
‘Look how far she has fallen’ they would chant.
And all the while I held the breath as if releasing all
the air would unearth the rot.

‘Open me up’ I screamed in dreams and then awoke thanking God
for the way the shame can be brushed beneath the covers,
away from the eye.

I think somewhere back there I lost my way.
The cold set in and the numbness became my body.

I think I’ve forgotten the sweetness of the 99 names,
And the way they give themselves up to the beads my
mother brushes her fingers over when she wakes early in the morning.
I hear her as her voice breaks over a verse.

Somehow I became the disappointment that wakes at 3 in
the morning to write but sleeps past the call to prayer at 6.

I have become a ghost to the ones in the house who gather
together when they are called to drop to their knees.

When my father called the sheikhs we were taken from our
rooms and placed at their centre.

Soon I am thinking about opening the chest and letting it out.
Nobody is supposed to fall this far off, I say.

Sometimes I scratch at the knees, blaming the devil.
Sometimes the sins are warm and come in their best body.
They are light in the hands.

Most times they come in admiration at how brave you are
beneath a God that is all eyes in every direction.

The sins kiss your face gently before they set you alight.

Amaal Said
Copyright © 2014

Hooyo

In moments of profound nostalgia
And longing for my mother’s company
I recall the warm summer days of Mumbai
Where I woke up to the sounds of Adhan
And in close proximity to my mother’s fragrance

In America’s bitter cold winter
I wrap her shawl around my shoulders
And my heart explodes with warmth and joy
As I smell her scent in the air.

Halima Ahmed
Copyright © 2014

I DO NOT DREAM OF JANNAH

I do not dream of Jannah or of castles made of gold, or of gardens, fountains and all that we’re told.

I do not dream of crystal glass and wine, I prefer tea. You see, all this is simply not my cup of tea.

I do not dream of pearls and gems, I’m not sold, or of musk, silk gowns and to be dolled.

I do not dream of rivers of wine, milk and honey. You see, I would rather swim in the sea.

I do not dream of the Hereafter or of tales of old, Blasphemy! You might find this rather bold.

I do not dream of hoor al-ayn, they don’t tempt me. You see, to be loved by one is enough for me.

I do dream of Him and of His sight to behold!

And of Heaven and Earth, and for all to unfold.

I do dream of life, death and its mystery,

But you see, in that faith lies true beauty.

To be free, to be happy.

Hamdi Khalif

Copyright © 2014

Farah Gabdon

if they sit and converse
about you in judgement and error;
let them.
and if they sit and discuss you
in pleasant favour, 
also, let them.

there is enough space,
in this land of God,
enough air to house
and host the speech
of those who do not know you
well enough to form opinions.

you do not have to keep
any of it in your heart,
you do not have to take it
into your body,
nor let it sit and simmer
around your soul.

free yourself of it all,
let it blow with the winds of the West,
run with the rivers of the East.

you do not have to take
any of it in;
you do not have to take
any of it in.”

Farah Gabdon

Abused

Sweet humming from the predator bee

Circling around this cunning bee

Looking for a chance

Waiting for a glance

What a plan it had that little bee

There she stood alone in the wild forest

Striving for a tender touch of a unknown tourist

A red angel they called her swagger

Wet as spring night sweeter than sugar

There the rose was glamorous than ever

Dressed in a silky dreams for the one hers forever

Along came our night rider

Searching for the glorious kill

Someone to click on, some place to fill

And there was our day dreaming rose

So Introduction has been made time jut took a pause

He showed her the world and a word she believed

Well spoken words he said and the heart was deceived

She sow him in every corner of her past, present, and future dreams

A queen she thought not a joke in his schemes

At the night’s darkest hour a whisper has been heard

That said the unneeded details of the rose and devious lord

Morning came with a gloomy mist

Our story had a dreadful twist?

How could our angel look so dead

Or the loving words can be unsaid 

Left, hurt, broken under the painful ashes

Her dreams crumbled beneath her eye lashes

Behold here comes the knight of the night clashes

He took a glance to the remains he left behind

A soundless cry mumbling how could I be so blind

A smile she got from him saying I hope I have blown your mind

Don’t think too much he roared, time can never unwind

A hope he killed in a heart was nothing but too kind

He said you have been divinely used

While the lord of the night was being amused

"For her all she was and will ever be just “abused

Amal Shookari 

Copyright © 2014

Loving Salvation

I  could only ever love a man
Who can sit beside my mother 
And make her smile;

Not with the reluctant unease
She learnt in England,
From the men and women 
Who regarded her with quiet suspicion;

But the hearty open mouthed grin of her homeland
That always said:
“welcome, welcome,
I recognize in you something of myself,
Your language falls at home in my ears
And your face could have belonged to a child I never had,
Welcome, welcome,
This space was always reserved for you.”

I will love him like it a religious duty,
A cultural duty,
An ethnic duty.

I will love him like it is salvation,
Like it means keeping my people alive.

Farah Gabdon

Shar iyo Kheyr

Adduunyadu waa shuraako

Taariikhduna shey ma dhaafo

Shar iyo kheyr kuu ahaado

Abwaankuna sheykar weeyo

Xumaanta la shaacinaayo

U sheegaha shacabka weeyo.

Fuleynimo shuush xun weeyo

Garaadkoon sheenna weeyo

Khiyaanada shacabka weeyo

Shaqsiyad doqon liita weeyo

Shirqoolka dalkeenna weeyo

Sheydaanka u hiili weeyo.

Sheybaarradi caafimaadka

Kuwii Shaamoow ku laayey

Aqoonyahankiyo shuyuukhda

Waxgaradkiyo shaawilkeenna

Kuwaa hilibkooda shiila

Inaan sheegaa gar weeyo.

Shuucinnimo jaahil weeyo

Shareecada dhaawac weeyo

Shikraha nabaddiidka weeyo

Shisheeye miciinsa weeyo

Dulliga sharafteenna weeyo

Shuraakada cadowga weeyo.

Maantiyo aayaha shabaabka

Hooyada shaaha iibineysa

Si ay ubadka u shafeecda

Shaqaalaha dawladdeenna

Rasaasta kuwaa ku shiisha

Inaan sheegaa gar weeyo.

Tagfiirkani soo shareertay

Shareecada iyo xaddiista

Axkaamtiyo shaagaggeeda

Shihiidnimo been ka sheega

Dhallaan iyo sheybe dooxda

Inaan sheegaa gar weeyo.

Sharciga iyo kala-dambeynta

Is-maqalkiyo wadashaqeynta

Dablaha shacabka u adeega

Maddaalaha sheedda taagan

Inuu qaranka u shihiido

Inaan sheegaa gar weeyo.

Soomaalaay sharafdhaceenna

Shabaab taageeriddooda

Shisheeye addoonsigiisa

Shibtiyo wada aamuskeenna

Abwaaniinteennan shiiqay

Inaan shammiyaa gar weeyo.

Dhib baa shalaliyey dadkeenna

Shiddaa dagalkeenna taalla

Midnimadeennaa shakaalan

Siyaasaa shoobbareysan

Shabaab baa dila haldoorka

Inaan sheegaa gar weeyo.

Waxaa dagan shaariskeenna

Shiish baa kaga furan dhafoorka

Shabaab baa baacsanaaya

Naftiisaa shoolad saaran

Shafkaa laga toogan leylki

Hadduu faaqida sharkooda.

Haddey gabi shucaradeenna

Sharooteeyeen dibnaha

Fuleyguna uu shib yidhi

Shabaabku u gooddiyeen

Anigu waan sheegayaa

Sharkey nala maagan yihiin.

Xil baan shaadeersanahay

Shil-qaran baan diiddanahay

Shishaan ka arkaa dhib culus

Halaag shacabka uu mudneyn

Shaacuunkaa nagu dhax-jira

Inaan sheegaa gar weeyo.

Shalay nimankii na gubay

Hablihi laga sheexi jiray

Suldaan sharaf lagu ogaa

Kuwaa dhuxulaha ku shida

Ninkaan fikirkooda shumin

U qaba sheydaan murtada'a.

Shahaadada ubaxi siday

Cilmiga sey uga shabcaan

Shidaalka kuwii ku dubay

Shukriyo waa mahad Ilaah

Ka sheegay idaacadaha

Miyaan sheekh oran karraa?

Gafkani lala soo shirtagay

Dalkani xaabada ku shidan

Siduu yahay shaawirmaa

Shammuurey sideed u solan

Shukada niman baa u xiran

Iney shaag dawlad rogin.

Waheey shacabkeygiyoow!

Waheey sharaf dawladeey!

Waheey sheekhdeydiyoow!

Waheey shucaradi dalkoow!

Waheey nabad shaabuqdaay!

Shallaayto maxaa na baday?

Sha'nigan gobonnimo ma aha

Shifiyo nabad baa carfoon

Shir-gacaltooyaa gudboon

Ka-shawrka dantaa habboon

Shabaaboow qoriga dhiga

Badbaadiya shibilka dilan.

Si uu calankeenna sharaf

U yeeshoo ugu shalcada

Shurdada iyo ciidankeenna

Sharciga ay ugu dhaqmaan

Shiqaaqada looga baxa

Amniga guud kala shaqeeya.

Shucbadu dhagar bey wadaan

Shirqool-qaran bey dummaan

Shanshadey geesiga jabshaan

Baley la shabbaaxtamaan

Nin aan shacabkaba u nixin

Asagaa shuuciga ka daran!

Shareecada caawiyoow

Bukaannada shaafiyoow

Shukriga lagu caabudoow

Awoodaha sheywalboow

Alloow ciiddeydan shidan

Soomaalida sharaf u yeel

Alloow shacabkoo is-jecel.

Abwaan Maxamed Cabdiqaadir (Stanza)