Summary

In Chapter 6, Askar recalls Karin speaking to him about the poets of Somalia. She said that poets think of Somalia like a mother that nurtures them and as a mother that must be protected. By the time Askar was six years old, he was recognized as the de facto leader among the students at his school, as he was the most mature.

One day, Askar fell ill with no apparent cause. Askar said that it felt as if he could not think. The adults debated how to treat the illness. During this time, he dreamed that he was in a large, Eden-like garden and that he was happy and had full knowledge of himself. A small amount of blood secreted from his urethra due to his illness, and he feared for a moment that it was menstruation, as he was averse to the idea...