Bar Baa Igu Taala aan Weligeed Tirmayn
(I have (harbor) a mark that can never be erased)
By
Halima Cali Warsame, Garowe District
Toban anoon gaarin tabar weyna aan lahayn;
(Before I reached ten and was not so strong)
Tooray igu qalatay habar aan tacliin labarin;
(An old uneducated woman cut me with a knife)
Qodaxday igu taagtay hilibkay tiqtiqahayeen;
(Piercing me with thorns to tightly suture the flesh)
Tiftii Kaadida wadnaha tash layga yiri oo;
(My heart was pierced with the first drops of urine)
Bar baa igu taala aan weligeed tirmayn.
(I have a mark that can never be erased)
-//-
Markaan taaba qaaday oon taladiisa guur u kacay;
(When I grew up and prepared for marriage)
Salaanta utaagay toolmanahaan jeclaa;
(When I raised my hand to greet my handsome love)
Tacab qaadashiyo gurigii mar laysla tegay;
(When we collected our house hold goods and entered our home)
Taabashaddii horeba wadnaha tash layga yiri;
(My heart was pierced with the first touch)
Bar baa igu taala aan weligeed tirmayn.
(I have a mark that can never be erased)
-//-
Tiftii igu gorordhay tarantii Ilaah alkumay;
When God created a life out of the few drops that managed to get in)
Talalka cudurka tiiraanyadii walaca;
(When I suffered with the morning sickness)
Markay taarikhdii dhamatay ee fooshii timi;
(when the time finished and labor came)
Tooray looqaaday hilibkii marhore la tolay;
(A knife was taken for the already sutured flesh)
Tararacidd jiirka wadnaha tash layga yiri;
(My heart was pierced with the tearing skin)
Barbaa igu taala aan weligeed tirmayn
(I have a mark that can never be erased)
-//-
Towsda cudurkaasana iilkaan la tagahayaa; ee
(I will take its (FGM/FGC) consequences to the grave)
Taa nawada qaaday gabdhihiina uga tura.
(Save your girls from this that engulfed us all!)
Reported and Translated By: Dr Asha Mohamud