I have always known
That at last I would
Take this road, but yesterday
I did not know that it would be today.
translated by Kenneth Rexroth
Month: April 2023
on birthday reminders: for too many to list who have gone on before
and yet
another birthday reminder
on facebook
of someone dear
who has passed on
to that place
where birthdays dissolve
in the air
be still, dear one
life’s troubles have moved on
to someone else
while you await
the arrival
of us all
perspective
that’s life
she said
with a wave of her hand
and he sighed
and replied
no, this is
from About Life: 1 by Arife Kalender
The sun
Among the quivering leaves
in silence touched my face
Joined me for tea, we lit a cigarette
Two old friends . . .
I sift the days
With a sieve in my hand
On it
Days that will never be re-lived
At the same place and hour . . .
Does living mean getting older, for
it is secretly prevading my wrinkles . . .
translated by Mukadder Aykırı & Suat Karantay
The Rose Was Offended by Arife Kalender
The rose was offended
its love rooted out of the earth
a great exodus
it was planted once more in the same place
its feet touched the same water again
its leaves green still
it color mute though
its buds blind
translated by Ender Gürol
Jam by Sunay Akın
Never was I able to smile
at her sickbed
that’s why mom
was unaware
of the dimple
on my left cheek
As the medicine on the
bedside table accumulated
I would rejoice in
the growing skyscraper
I made from the boxes
And I didn’t realize
that the only color
in mom’s life
was the jams
in the jars
lined up on the shelves.
translated by Suat Karantay
too few walls
she complained
of too many pictures
on the walls
frozen moments
enshrined
to keep me
company
here 5000 miles
away in time
and I
regretting too few walls
surrounding me
from Digesting Contradictions: X by Nur Bulum
on my stone throne I watch the sun sink
the sea rises
and disperses the ink in my logbook
life has neither pre- nor post-phases
it’s a pendulum between meanings and words
now with a minus now with a plus
translated by Tarık Günersel
Toys by Akgün Akova
when a child
is taken into the operation room
his toys
knowing that life is a game
easily spoilt
wait for him
behind the door
weeping
translated by Cevat Çapan
my heart: for JK
you twirl
naked
in candlelight
while my heart
in my mouth
stops
never to beat
like before
ever again
Leonard Durso 