Voices in the Forest 

Great White Pine

Listen in English (Sound Cloud)

Listen in Somali (Sound Cloud; read by Amal Sheylila)

You will never know everything
But you may remember this
If you empathize with your senses and appreciate their wisdom
Gaze downward without prejudice and deep slow breathes
Observe what’s obvious with fresh eyes.
Let that image play
At least once a day
Because the next visit
I promise it will be different
Inhale
Exhale
His name was Patrick R Duff
He was an arborist misstep
A reminder of our fragile mortality from a heartbreaking accident
He was their son
He was our neighbor
And up until the end
He was his wife’s best friend

Download the bilingual Somali/English PDF

Remind Me Again 

Listen in English (Sound Cloud)

Listen in Somali (Sound Cloud; read by Amal Sheylila)

The ball flies
As the crowd goes silent
And sound of steel dragging against manicured dirt
Grinds opposite the pace of the terrified cleats
Nature is unforgiving and unconvinced of the umpire’s authority
So it reminds those in attendance of its unwavering force and time’s irrelevance
The bat swings
While absence of clocks seduces patience
Then flirts with discipline
The impact sings
Through the specter’s gaze and the players’ opportunity
While we all wait
At the ole, ball, game.

Download the bilingual PDF (Somali and English)

Willows Woes 

Listen in English (Sound Cloud)

Listen in Somali (Sound Cloud, read by Amal Sheylila)

With the weight of the world
Leaning on its limp shoulders
Gravity’s sympathy remains idle towards the willow
As it slopes with a pessimist lean
Waning and weeping uncontrollably
Bent in its sway
The willow’s shady decay
Plays gracefully among bent branches and broken leaves
Draped over beaten grass
Soaked in the morning’s tears

Download the bilingual Somali-English PDF

Voices in the Forest