FAZIL HÜSNÜ DAGLARCA Seçme Siirler * Selected Poems

Translated by Talat Sait Halman

Dayak Ister misin ellerimizi birlestirelim, Sen iki vur, ben iki daha, Çalmis mi, Emmis mi alin terini ulusunun, Sen dört vur, ben dört daha. Gemi seçmeye mi gitmis 20 kisi, çay bulmaya mi yollanmis 30 kisi, Disbakan olmus da yüzde mi almis. - Saçi bitmedik çocuklarim aç iken kerpiç köylerde, Bebek kizlarim gecelerce akligini satarken- Sen yedi vur, ben yedi daha. Ha, ister misin ellerimizi birlestirelim, Degeri 8 iken, 208'e mi vermis bir tabak fasulyayi, Dilekçeni görür görmez deve boynunu sallamis, 500 mü koparmis senden, Saylav seçilmis de gelecegine yatirim mi yapmis, devrimi çigneyerek, Sen dokuz vur, ben dokuz daha.

Beating How about it, let's join our hands. You hit twice, and I'll belt two. Has he stolen Or sucked the nation's blood and sweat? You belt four, and I'll strike four more. 20 sent abroad to buy ships, 30 to select tea ... Did the Foreign Minister get a cut, While our hairless children starve in mudbaked villages, And our baby dolls sell their pure flesh night after night? You hit seven times, and I'll belt seven more. How about it eh, let's join hands. Has he sold a plate of beans, 8 cents worth for two dollar eight, Or did he shake his camel's head at your petition to squeeze 500 out of you? Elected to Congress did he invest in his own future, trample on progress? You belt nine, and I'll belt nine more.