BRAZIER

A brazier used to burn at their door...
Nothing could be seen
But the fire and the smoke
In the dark of the evening.
During the shortages, the abundance of charcoal
Brought peace and happiness to the childish soul
Of my poet friend Oktay Rifat,
And Munevver Hanim, his mother,
Used to grill fish on the brazier,
And he used to fill his nostrils
With its smoke
With a cardboard fan.




Orhan Veli
Translated by Murat Nemet-Nejat, 1989