THE SONG OF THE WATER CARRIER

I carry water with a donkey before me.
Git, my monkey, git.
I add life to the life of a thousand persons every day.
Git, my monkey, git.

Two cans on one side
Two cans on the other,
Wobbling, wobbling.
I add life to the life of a thousand every day.
Git, my monkey, git.

My only possessions in this world:
My wife, my donkey, my son.
Git, my monkey, git.
May God give you a long life.
What can I do without you?
Git, my monkey, git.

It carries water; it becomes butter, honey,
To my wife milk,
The muddy water - it refreshes all.
One hundred houses every day, one thousand heads.
Git, my monkey, git.
It finds life
It finds health
It finds abundance.




Orhan Veli
Translated by Murat Nemet-Nejat, 1989