THE GUEST

I was bored yesterday towards evening;
Two packages of cigarettes didn't do me a thing;
Tried to write, no good either;
For the first time in years I played the violin,
Walked around,
Kibitzed watching people play backgammon,
Sang songs off key,
Caught flies - a boxful.
Finally, damn it,
I came here to see you.




Orhan Veli
Translated by Murat Nemet-Nejat, 1989