there the distance
so far from here
this old heart
is weary
of roads of sails
of wings of rails
yet one step
taken
before this heart
turns away
love poem of sorts
from a line by Niu Shi-chi
remember always
she said
as she floated
over land
only looking back
to say
always be tender
with the grass
as I am
to you
My Tree by Orhan Veli Kanık
In our neighborhood
If there were other trees
I would not love you so.
But if you knew
How to play hopscotch with me
I would love you much more.
My beautiful tree.
When you die
I hope we’ll have moved
To another neighborhood.
translated by Murat Nemet-Nejat
To Keep Busy by Orhan Veli Kanık
The beautiful women thought
The love poems I wrote
Were about them.
And I always suffered
Knowing that I wrote them
To keep busy.
translated by Murat Nemet-Nejat
Leonard Durso 