Hi All, I know many of you like the Turkish poetry I post in translation but here’s a young woman who has been translating Turkish poetry for a few years now and has translated many poets who are not available anywhere else in English. Please read her work and enjoy.
-Perişan Sofra-
Öldü; ne rüzgârlar girdi içeri,
Ne bir kuş havalandı pencereden.
Öldü; kimse görmedi melekleri;
Sorma nasıl habersiz gitti giden.
Bir uzun sefere çıktı, diyorlar;
Gemiyi gören var mı? hani deniz?
Sen gittin, soframız oldu târumar;
Doğan günü yadırgıyor hâlimiz.
-Cahit Sıtkı Tarancı…
Translation: -A Miserable Dining Table- She died; neither the winds entered inside, Nor did the birds fly away from the window. She died; no one saw the angels; Don’t ask how silently she was gone. They say she set forth on a long journey; Has anyone seen the ship? Where is the sea? You are gone, leaving our dining table miserable; Our mind can’t accept the newly-born day. Translated by R. U.
Leonard Durso 