LIVING

I.

I know, living isn't easy,
Falling in love and singing of your sweetheart,
Walking under the stars at night,
During the day feeling the warmth of the sun,
Finding the chance
To go to Camlica Hills for one of two hours,
Watching the Bosphorus run a thousand sorts of blue,
Being able to forget everything in blue.

II.

I know, it isn't easy to live,
True;
But a corpse's bed is still warm,
Someone's watch is still ticking on his wrist;
Living isn't easy, I know;
But dying isn't easy either, guys.

It isn't easy to leave this world.




Orhan Veli
Translated by Murat Nemet-Nejat, 1989