Why I Hate Warlords

I have written this poem out of outrage, indignation, and frustration. I started writing the first line at the beginning of the current carnage in Mogadishu on March 22, 2006. I read the appalling news from Mogadishu and seen the pictures of death, destruction, and disarray the fighting have caused. I desperately needed a way to vent my anger and anguish as many of you had to do. I never thought of writing a poem before let alone publishing one for the world to see. I may be asking too much from a nation of poets and orators but I will plea my case with my readers anyway. I am not known for my oratory or artistic skills so please have a compassion for me. My first and last display of artistic ability was my first class/grade playing the role of "Biid Xaar" The Naughty Fashion Trendsetter Little Boy in a school play at my elementary school in Somalia. I wonder how many Somali children in Somalia that go to school today let alone participate in a school play.

I must undoubtedly convey to my readers that I don't support either side of the conflict. In my humble opinion, both sides fit the definition of warlord which is the subject of the poem. I define a warlord as someone who leads armed military or militias and causes the death and the destruction of innocent civilians or rules them against their will through force and intimidation. Most of today's so-called Somali leaders will fit right into my warlord definition.

Writing this poem and reading it to myself in its entirety several times helped me cope with my anger and anguish. I hope it will help you as well as you try to endure the tragedies of Somalia in your own ways. Here is the poem.

Why I Hate Warlords

I hate warlords because of what they do
They Destroy
Devastate
Decapitate
Disfigure
Deform

They Murder
Massacre
Mutilate
Maim

They Kill
Cripple
Coerce

They Rape
They Rob
They Ruin

I hate warlords because of their character
They are Cruel
Criminals
Crooks
Culprits
Kaligitashade
Kalaqeybiye
Kadare

They are Dysfunctional
Disilutional
Destructive
Disruptive
Dabiin
Dabaal
Doqon

They are Unstable
Unpredictable
Uncontrollable
Unpolite
Unfit

They are hooligans
Hoodlums
Halaag
Habaar
Hoog
Haraa

They are throwaways
Transgressors
Thugs
Thorns

They are Maanlaawe
Macangag
Maskaxyare
Magudbe
Mushkilo
Masiibo

I hate warlords because of their behavior
They Loot
They Lie
They Cheat

They Deceive
They Divide
They Deprave
They Dissolute

They are Passionless
Heartless
Mindless
Senseless
Useless

I hate warlords because of what they represent
Chaos
Carnage
Confusion
Catastrophe
Calamity

Kalayaac
Kalacarar
Kalafirdhad
Kaladhimasho
Kalaqax
Kalajab
Kalaguur

I hate warlords because of their profession
They are Assassins
Executioner
Murderers
Maniacs
Dope suppliers
Drug pushers
Dad dile
Dad cune
Dad qashe
Dagaal ooge

They are arms dealers
Human trafficker
Crime syndicates
Con artists

I hate warlords because of their choice of victims
The Unarmed
The Underprivileged
The Vulnerable
The Young
The Weak

The Maato
The Miskiin
The Madi

The Horseed
The Halyeey
The Hanaqaad
The Hormood

I hate warlords because of what they stand for
Destruction
Disintegration
Discord
Division
Dulmi
Dambi

I hate warlords because of how we die
Due to Dagaal
Disease
Dhaawac
Desperation

Starvation
Isdagaalan
Isdilid
Isdooxid
Isdabargoyn
Isdabarjar
Isdabartir

I hate warlords because of where we die
At the refugees camps
At halfway houses
At jail cells
At hospices
At high sea
On the run
At the road
At the Diaspora

I hate warlords because of what they don't have
They have no shame
No morals
No boundaries

They have no decency
Dignity
Discernment

They have no integrity
Intelligence
Ingenuity

They have no feeling
Vision
Foresight

I hate warlords because of who their associates are
The Mooryaans
The Militias
The Militants
The Maangaab
The Manexe
The Munaafaq
The Meles Zenawi

I hate warlords because of what they have done to us
To our cherished county
To our treasured land
To our pristine environment
To our beloved people
To our precious children
To our beautiful women
To our shining youth
To our proud elders
To all of us

To Calenkeeni
To Carradeeni
To Ciiddeeni
To Caadadeeni
To Carruurteeni
To Caaqisheeni
To Caasimaddeeni

I hate warlords because of what they took from us
Our Dignity
Our Pride
Our Future
Our Livelihood
Our Humanity
Our Innocence
Our Youth
Our Hope

I hate warlords because of what they have made of us
Refugees
Asylees
Aliens
Illegals
Dwellers
Drifters
Derelicts
Pirates
Beggars
Pushers

I hate warlords because of what we have became
Expendable
Extraneous
Iska Xoor
Iska Durki
Iska Duw
Iska Dhowr
Iska Nac

Unwell
Unwanted
Unwelcomed
Unworthy

Unprincipled
Unpalatable
Unremarkable
Unpleasant
Unimportant

I hate warlords because of what we lost
Our Country
Our Culture
Our Language
Our Jewel
Our People
Our Families
Our Unity
Our Trust
Our Relations

I hate warlords because of what we don't have
Peace
Barwaaqo
Bashbash
Baryosan

Public Service
Public Safety
Public Library
Public School
Public Health
Public Works

I hate warlords because of the pain they caused us
Physiological
Psychological
Sociological
Emotional
Economical
Political
Parental
Personal

I hate warlords because of where they are leading us
Disunity
Disintegration
Destruction
Dark Ages
Death Wish
Dead-end
Down hill

I hate warlords because of the cry of our cities
The Xamar Cadde
Xamar Weyne
Xamar Jajab
Xarar Dheere
and Xudur

Jilib
Jamaame
Januunay
Jajuuma
and Jowhar

Cadaado
Cadale
Ceelbuur
and Caabdudwaaq

Baydhabo Janaay
Baladweyne
Buula Xaawo
Balidoogle
Boosaaso
Baardheere
and Baraawe

Garoowe
Garbaharay
Guriceel
Galkio
and Galinsoor

Markacadday
Mahadaay
Matabaan
And Mareegley

I hate warlords because of their ignorance
They can't read
Can't write
Can't comprehend

They are incoherent
Unintelligent
Uneducated
Uncivilized
Unsophisticated

They are deranged
Delirious
Demented

I hate warlords because of their arrogance
They want to rule us at gunpoint
To be the president
And the prime minister
And the deputy prime minister
And the minister of interior
And the minister of public works
And the minister of commerce
And every other minister post
And all the deputy minister posts
And the governor
And the mayor
And the judge
And the jury
And every other title

The Sheikh
The Haji
The Ugaas
The Caaqil
The Imaam
The Imaan
The Islaan
The Malaaq
The Sultaan
The Beeldaaje
The Boqor
The Baayacmushtar

I Hate Warlords!!!
I Hate Warlords!!!
I Hate Warlords!!!

Now you know why I hate warlords

Written By Hassan Warsame
Somali Diaspora Network
hassanwarsame@somalidiaspora.com
Virginia, USA

The writer lives and works in Virginia, USA. He holds a B.S in Computer Science, an M.S in Business Technologies, and graduate level certificates in management. He has over twenty years of experience in information technology, business, and management. He enjoys technology, Internet activities, politics, reading current news, and participating in outdoors, community and cultural activities. Most of all, he has a special interest, passion, and affection for Somalia and Somali people.