Poems

Clarity

Notes

This is one of the most famous, and most important poems, in contemporary Somali poetry. Following his release from five year's imprisonment by the dictator, Siad Barre, Hadraawi and his good friend, the late Maxamed Xaashi Dhamac 'Gaarriye', began this 'chain' of poems, 'Deelley', to which many prominent Somali poets contributed. Hadraawi's 'Clarity' is dedicated to Gaarriye, whom he speaks of with enormous admiration and affection in the poem.

All the poems in the 'Deelley' chain are written in the demanding and complex gabay form and, in this case, they all alliterate with the letter 'D'. The 'Deelley' poems were memorised and recited in secret and they had a significant impact on Barre's reputation leading to his downfall. 'The Sea Migrations' by the Somali poet Caasha Lul Mohamud Yusuf is a recent addition to the chain.

WN Herbert, Poet-translator