Why when I say harbour
Do cranes come to mind
And sails when I say open sea?

Cats when I say March
Workers when  I say rights
And why does the old miller
Blindly believe in God?

And why does rain fall slanted
In windy weather?

translated by George Messo

I

I know, it’s not easy to live,
To fall in love and sing to the one you love,
To stroll in starlight at night,
To warm yourself by the light of day,
To find time like this to meet
On Çamlıca Hill for half a day
–A thousand blues flowing from the Bosphorus–
To forget everything in these leagues of blue.

II

I know, it isn’t easy to live,
But there
A dead man’s bed is still warm,
Someone’s watch still ticks on his wrist.
Living isn’t easy, brothers,
But neither is dying.

It isn’t easy to leave this world.

translated by George Messo

I’m saved from an old love,
Now all women are beautiful,
My shirt’s new,
I’ve washed,
I’ve shaved,
It’s peaceful.
Spring is here.
The sun is out.
I’m in the street, people are relaxed,
I’m relaxed, too.

translated by George Messo

Birds pass over the cloud,
And rain pours over it.

Birds pass over a train,
And rain pours over it.

Birds pass over night,
And rain pours over it.

Moon comes, wherever birds go . . .
And sun rises over the rain.

translated by George Messo