FAZIL HÜSNÜ DAGLARCA Seçme Siirler * Selected Poems

Translated by Talat Sait Halman

Samsun'dan Ankara'ya - Ordunun silahlari alinmis ve alinmakta Atim acindan hasta, çalmislar kilicimi, Üsürüm. Içimde silah sesleri, Sabaha kadar, tövbe tövbe, Gecelerle dövüsürüm. Kabzelerim vardi paril paril, Altin elmas. Getirmistim ta Orta Asyadan, Ta bati Avrupa hayran olmustu, Kalmis agirliklarinca avuçlarimda yas. Hepsi bir baska biçimdeydi, Ama kardesti tüfekle yay. Onlarla yasamam hizlanirdi, Duyulurdu suyun ekmegin lezzeti daha hos, Daha kolay. Çalmislar kilicimi, Vaktim bir atesle kizillasir önce. Sonra tarihler tarihler döger içimizdekileri, O kadar hafif, o kadar yalin, Kilinç olur düsünce.

From Samsun to Ankara - The army was being divested of its weapons. My horse is ailing with hunger, my sword is stolen, The cold bites. Weapons rattle in my heart. Till daybreak, in remorse and sorrow, I fight the nights. My butts had gold and diamonds For ornament. I brought them from Central Asia To dazzle Western Europe. Now my hands weigh down with their lament. They all had different shapes, But the rifle and the bow were brothers. They gave my life its mad speed, And made water and bread taste better, And easier than the others. My sword was stolen. My time turned crimson when the flames gored. Epoch after epoch beat the anvil of our hearts. So light and naked, The mind becomes the sword.