My Language

My culture is based on how you speak,

It’s like a rainy day without the rainbow at the end, it’s just

gloomy and sad.

My mother always said, if u step out of a plane speaking

like that, u might as well cry ur way back inside.

My family says the same things to the little one, the more

chuckles in the air the more cracks in their voices.

I said to my older cousin, “Maxay muhiim u tahay in la bar-

to Soomaaliga?” She said back, “la’aanteed afkeenna ma jiri

doontid.”

Translation: I said to my older cousin, “Why do I have to learn

Somali?” She said back, “Without our language, you would not

exist.”