The following poem, composed by Ali Mire Awale, carries words of wisdom to his elderly daughters whom he reminds to never forget the struggle he underwent to raise them as a single father. Ali Mire Awale was one of the first batch of Somali teachers in 1960. An established scholar, he is credited to have written the Somalia’s national anthem: Soomaaliyeey toosoo. The poem was last printed in the ’70s never to be reprinted again after the fall of the central government.

Gabaygan waxaa tiriyey Abwaan Cali Mire Cawaale oo uu tiriyey gabadhihiisa waaweyn oo uu rajeynimo ku soo koriyey. Ujeeddada uu Cali ka lahaa gabaygan waxay ahayd inuu ku waaniyo gabdhihiisa waaweyn inay xannaaneeyaan carruurta ka yar yar ee haweeneyda uu qabaa ay dhashay; iyo inuu ogeysiiyo inuu dhib badan ka so maray korrimadooda. Cali wuxuu ka mid ahaa macallimiintii ugu horreeysay ee dalku yeeshay, wuxuuna qayb weyn ka so qaatay waxbarashada dhalinyarada Soomaaliyeed.

Da’ qofkii noqdaa loo ogaa inu dardaarmaaye
Gabdhayow duq baan ahay haddeer aan durdurineyne
Waxaan idinka doonaana waa daacad iyo xooge

Carruurtaan ducaysneyne way degel xumaataaye
Inaad dadaahaysaan ilmaha idinku doorroone
Haddaydaan dulqaad yeelan waa dibudhac reereede

Idinkaba wax badan baan dartiin daal u soo maraye
Duleed lagama helin xoolihiyo daartaad huruddaanne
Dagaal baan u soo galay waxaad duni arkaysaane

Dabbaan shiday intaan daango dubey rooti duhur qaatay
Daryeelkiina awgiis xawaash dumar la soo ibshay
Dadaal aan idiin qabo cuntada dacal ku soo laabay

Idinkaan dareemine ma yara diifta igu taalle
Allahayow, daraaddiin maxaa “daanno” igu gaartay
Doqon iyo damiin iyo maxaan nacab la daaweystay

Dayac ka raw intii aan lahaa dacas maxay fuulay
Dereskooda yay mudan maxaan deyn u galay xoog leh
Dadku yuu rajo u garan maxaan dahab idiin siiyey

Dabayl iyo kulayl iyo maxaan dibad idiin meeray
Diihaal anoo qaba maxaan qariyey daalkayga
Kolkuu diiggu ciyo aawadiin dalag maxaan raadshay

Dulbaax iyo baruur iyo maxaan dasib idiin keenay
Dermo iyo furaash iyo maxaan gogol idiin daadshay
Diibaaj xariiriyo maxaan diric idiin gooyey

Middii dureyda lel dhexe maxaan daawadow kiciyey
Dugaaggiyo maxaan idinka jirey daallin iyo meel xun
Maxaan idinka digey xaajo aan idinla diidaayo

Duurxul hadal ah naag tiri allow diiq maxaan geliyey
Dulmi idinka oo falay maxaan idinla soo duubtay
Dembi aad samayseen maxaan duulal kale saaray

Derejiyo wanaag iyo maxaan samo idiin doonay
Duco iyo maxaan Eebbe-tuug idinku sii daayey
Eeggana dantay aan hadlee waxaan ku soo duubay

Daacad iyo werdiga Weynehey docogso mooyaane
Inaan daayo yaa ila gudboon duunyo dhiqiddeede
Bal aan dayo abaal inuu dad galo daayin baa garane