A Monument Has Fallen

I'm deeply saddened by the untimely death of poet Maxamed Xaashi Dhamac "Gaarriye" who passed away yesterday in Norway at the age of 62. My condolences go to his family and friends, as well as to all Somalis for we all have lost an inspiring treasure. Fathomless respect! Alla Ha U Naxariisto! Rest in peace!

A biologist by training, Gaarriye was a highly respected poet. His numerous poems deal with a wide variety of topics - contrasting simple daily life with a complex form of existence beyond/after death, decadent wealth to abject poverty, all-engulfing war to ever-lasting peace, mankind's ugliness to nature's beauty, oppression to resistance, democracy to dictatorship.... and many things in-between.