by Bashir Goth
Friday, May 18, 2012
Hearing of the death of Dr. Abdishakur Sh. Ali Jowhar struck me as a thunderbolt out of the blue. At no time can one be prepared for death but at times like this it is simply unbearable. The following eulogy poem is therefore a tribute to my friend, eminent scholar, unique thinker and philosopher, medical doctor and above all my irreplaceable intellectual soul mate and hero who was snatched by an untimely death in a tragic and unforgivable car accident on one of Somaliland’s deathtrap roads, between Dilla and Borama, on 13th May 2012.
Dr. Jowhar was a man blessed with the gift of gab and it was our mutual love for words and ideas that brought us together. It is therefore imperative that I remember him in the way he knew and respected me best, as a poet. In time, I will write an obituary about him to share his life as I knew him with his fans and the general public but now let me try to touch on his character, his intellectuality, his passion, his bravery, his kindness, his wisdom, his patriotism, his rebellious thought and his modesty as well as his humor, his sarcasm and his flare with language in the following poem:Geesi Loo Hanweynaa(A Greatly Sought After Hero).
Geeriyeey gableeyaay
Gudcur iyo habaareey
***
Iyadoon laguu gogol
Oon gu’ba laguu tirin
Waxad soo guclaysood
Kolba guri mug weynaa
Goloftood ku heestaba
Miyaad goor xun socodeey
Maantana gab soo tidhi
***
Ood gabi hadhweyniyo
Geed lagu nagaa iyo
Gumbur lagu dahsoonaa
Geesi loo hanweynaa
Gab intaad ku soo tidhi
Gaar nooga qaaddoo
Goonyaha dhulkaygiyo
Gayigii u ooyoo
Shakuur lagu gunaanaday…
***
Maxaan gabay idhaahdaa
Miyuu ii guntamayaa
Godka uu baneeeyiyo
Gabalaaxsigiisii
Gololuhuu fadhiyi jirey
Gereerka erayadu
Qiimihiisi gaarkii
Miyuu gudi karaayaa…
***
Qalinkaygu gaydhada
Miyuu guulihiisii
Goohiyo dayaankii
Geesaaska sheekada
Siduu yahay gammaan faras
Qoraalkuu galbini jirey
Gibladiyo ciyaartiyo
Gurxanka iyo loolkiyo
Wilwilaha ku goyn jirey
Weedhuu gorfeeyaba
Guuxuu ka tegi jiray
Goolkuu ku dhalin jirey
Miyuu gaadhi karayaa...
***
Geesi baan abiidkii
Geeridu ka raagine
Goortii la joogaba
Guubaabadiisii
Gurmad caymadkiisii
Gaadh ilaaladiisii
Guryo oodistiisii
Gacal ururintiisii
Miyaa galalawgiisii
Durba loo go'doomoo
Gar allee la tebayaa
***
Goobtuu dhex joogsado
Gole oogistisii
Hadal godolintiisii
Gar wanaajintiisii
Talo loo gudboonyahay
Gorfo buuxintiisii
Garaad xoorintisii
Miyaa garashadiisii
Durba loo go'doomoo
Gar Allee la tebayaa
***
Jowharow waxaad guddo
Gogoshaad ahaydiyo
Beel gardaadintaadii
Dareen garashadaadii
Cilmigaagii gaankii
Waa loo goblamayoo
Goobtaad banaysaa
Jiilaal ka soo galay
***
Geeridu xaq weeyee
Somaliland gaar
Iyo guriga Soomaal
Gaban yar iyo waayeel
Geed kastoo la joogaba
Gacmahaa la hoorshoo
Gurayo hoyashadaadii
Guus iyo quraan iyo
Ducaa lagugu geebaray
***
Guudkeeda dunidani
Intaad joogtay gacallow
Waajibkaagii gudatee
Guryaheeda aakhiro
Galihii firdowsaad
Gama' oo ku waar nabad.