Nazim Hikmet (1902-1963)

 

The Walnut Tree

my head foaming clouds, sea inside me and out
I am a walnut tree in Gulhane Park
an old walnut, knot by knot, shred by shred
Neither you are aware of this, nor the police

I am a walnut tree in Gulhane Park
My leaves are nimble, nimble like fish in water
My leaves are sheer, sheer like a silk handkerchief
pick, wipe, my rose, the tear from your eyes
My leaves are my hands, I have one hundred thousand
I touch you with one hundred thousand hands, I touch Istanbul
My leaves are my eyes, I look in amazement
I watch you with one hundred thousand eyes, I watch Istanbul
Like one hundred thousand hearts, beat, beat my leaves

I am a walnut tree in Gulhane Park
neither you are aware of this, nor the police


Nazim Hikmet

translated from Turkish by Gun Gencer

 

Orhan Veli Kanik - Poet- (1914, Istanbul - November 14, 1950, Istanbul)

 

Biography

Son of the conductor of the Presidential Symphony, Orhan Veli receiveda good liberal education but left University of Istanbul in 1935 beforecompleting his studies. He worked in the Ankara Post Office until he wascalled up during World War II. On his discharge in 1945 he obtained a post as translator in the Ministry of Education but left his job in less than twoyears to lead a Bohemian existance. His younger brother, Adnan Veli,
himself a writer, was imprisoned for political offense in 1949 but Orhan
Veli was able to publish a literary journal, Yaprak [Leaf], for 28 issues
until a cerebral hemorrage ended his life.
Orhan Veli was more influenced by the sketch image of the Japanese haikuthan by any Turkish or even conventional Western poetic source. He feltthat we ``must free ourselves from poetic conceptions andfrom the effort
to make the use of words beautiful.''
I am listening to Istanbul, with my eyes closed.
The drunkeness of ancient feastings in my head.A seashore villa with dim -lit boathouse
With howling of the dying west wind
I am listening to Istanbul, with my eyes closed.
It is no exaggeration to say that Orhan Veli and the Garip movement represents
a watershed in Turkish literature. After him free verse and an unlimited
range of themes became the rule, while ``aruz'' meter and ``the rose and the nightingale'' became anachronisms. Though not a prolific writerhimself, Orhan Veli broke the conventional mold of polite Turkish verse. While discarding rhyme and meter Orhan Veli espresses an almost nihilistic world view that replaced him firmly in the company of modern western man.
The problem and so on, it was not thus.
``To be or not to be'' for him: One evening he went to sleep:
He just didn't wake up.
They took him; they carried him out.
Washed him, said their prayers, buried him.
If he creditors hear that he has died Surely they will forgive his debts.
As for the money owed to him, The late lamented, had no credit due to him for sure.
from Comtemporary Turkish Writers - A Critical Bio-Bibliography Louis Mitler - Indiana University Uralic and Altaic Series, 1988.
p. 142-144.

FINE DAYS
These fine days have been my ruin.
On this kind of day I resigned
My job in ``Pious Foundations.''
On this kind of day I started to smoke
On this kind of day I fell in love
On this kind of day I forgot
To bring home bread and salt
On this kind of day I had a relapse
In my versifying disease.
These fine days have been my ruin.

IF ONLY I COULD SET SAIL
How pleasant, oh dear God, how pleasant
To journey on the blue sea
To cast off from shore
Aimless as thought.
I would set sail to the wind
And wander from sea to sea
To find myself one morning
In some deserted bay.
In a harbor large and clean
A harbor in coral isles
Where in the wake of clouds
A golden summer trails.
The languid scent of oleasters
Would fill me there
And the taste of sorrow
Never find that place.
Sparrows would nest in the flowered
Eaves of my dream castla
The evenings would unravel with colors
The days pass in pomengrate gardens.

TWEEZERS
Neither the atom bomb,
Nor the London conference;
Tweezers in one hand,
A mirror on the other;
Does she care about the world?

I buy old clothes.
I buy old clothes and cut them into stars.
Music is the food of love.
I love music.
I write poetry.
I write poetry and buy old clothes.
I sell old clothes and buy music;
If I could also be a fish in a bottle of booze...

 

FREE
We live free
Air is free, clouds are free
Valleys and hills are free
Rain and mud are free
The outside of cars
The entrances of cinemas
And the shop windows are free
Bread and cheese cost money
But stale water is free
Freedom can cost your head
But prison is free
We live free

TAIL SONG
We can't come together, our ways are different
You're a butcher's cat, I'm an alley cat
Your food comes in a tin bowl
Mine is in the lion's mouth
You dream of love, I of a bone
But your way isn't easy either, brother
It's no easy job
To lick the man's hand every damn day

 

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Sertab Erener is the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2003!

 

by eurovision.tv

With 167 points and only 2 points ahead of next best grossing country Belgium, the Turkish singer Sertab Erener won the Eurovision Song Contest 2003. Already at very beginning of the show, the mood in the venue was great – the audience showed huge support for the Turkish singer with continuous applause, possibly predicting her success in the finale of the concert.
While results kept coming in, there was a fierce competition among Belgian, Turkish and Russian entries. Slovenia was the last to award its 10 points to Turkey thus making the Turkish entry the winner of the competition and host of the next Eurovision Song Contest!
Congratulations to the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2003 – Turkey!

more@ eurovision.tv

Timeless city :

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A Mediterranean Night with Yeni Türkü

 

by Eser Turan

The highly renowned and loved Turkish folk-rock band, Yeni Türkü, gave a concert on November 10th at Club Cocomo in San Francisco. Over 400 Bay Area Turks and their Turkish-music-loving friends had a memorable evening listening to some joyful and some melancholic songs performed by this highly talented group of musicians.
For two generations, Yeni Türkü has been a pioneer in contemporary Turkish music, as they reinterpret traditional themes. Their innovative style turns old tunes into popular songs, liked equally by all age groups. The group’s name reflects this role (Yeni= new, Türkü= Turkish folkloric music). In this way, Yeni Türkü helps Turkish culture maintain a connection to its ethnic roots, by making it feel relevant and alive for future generations.
Their songs have long celebrated the cultural diversity of the Turkish people.
Typically known for their melodies that carry Greek and Mediterranean influences, they have recently recorded songs inspired by the music from the Black Sea and the Eastern Anatolia regions. Their continual innovation grounded in cultural roots has made them one of the most beloved musical groups in Turkey.more @ TURKUAZ

 

Secrets of Orcun's Baklava

 

by Orcun Malkoclar

What a relief it is to publish this recipe finally!! So many friends have been asking for it. Here’s the recipe for this simple and delicious baklava.

The ingredients are:
500 grams of filo-dough
1-2 cups Extra Light Olive Oil
2 cups ground pistachio nuts
Syrup

Start by making the syrup first. This is the part that you can get creative with and truly make this recipe your own. The syrup is everything! With the hint of a few spices that you think is appropriate you can alter the taste of this baklava drastically.
The ingredients for the syrup are:
2 cups water
1 -2 cups of sugar,
(depending on how sweet you like it)
a squeeze of a lemon
a pinch of cinnamon
a single bay leaf,
a pinch of ground clove
a pinch of nutmeg
Mix all the ingredients and bring to a boil stirring the batch constantly. Once done, set the syrup aside and ...more @ TURKUAZ