All the things I’ve written about us are untrue
they’re not what happened between us but what I wanted to see happen
those were my longings hanging from your unreachable branches
and my thirst pulled out of the well of my dreams
they were pictures I drew on beams of light.

Not all of what I wrote about us is true
Your beauty
that is to say a fruit basket or a picnic in the meadow
my being without you
that is my being the last streetlamp at the last corner of the city
the way I’m jealous of you
which means my running blindfolded among trains at night
my happiness
so to say the sun-drenched river which breaks its banks and overflows.
Whatever I’ve written about us is all lies
whatever I’ve written about us is all true.

translated by Talat S. Halman

You’re my bondage and my freedom,
my flesh burning like a naked summer night,
you’re my country.

Hazel eyes marbled green,
you’re awesome, beautiful, and brave,
you’re my desire always just out of reach.

translated by Randy Blasing & Mutlu Konuk

The trees are still standing, the old benches dead and gone.
“Boris Park” is now “Freedom Park.”
Under the chestnet I just thought of you
and you alone–I mean Memet,
just you and Memet, I mean my country. . .

translated  by Randy Blasing & Mutlu Konuk

And don’t forget
always to look on the bright side of things
as should a prisoner’s wife.

translated by Jean Carpenter Efe

my head keeps loving, thinking, understanding,
my impotent rage goes on eating me,
and, since morning, my liver goes on aching. . .

translated by Randy Blasing & Mutlu Konuk

Here we are at the edge of the water
the sycamore and I, the cat and the sun with all that we are.
The water is cool
the sycamore magnificent
I am writing poetry
the cat dozing.
The sun is warm–
how wonderful to be alive.
The water casts light back on us
the sycamore and me, the cat and the sun and all that we are.

translated by Jean Carpenter Efe

You’re my bondage and my freedom
my flesh burning like a naked summer night,
you’re my country.

Hazel eyes marbled green,
you’re awesome, beautiful, and brave,
you’re my desire always just out of reach.

translated by Randy Blasing & Mutlu Konuk