I could never sleep through the birds,
every morning it was the first thing I heard.
They would sing their chaotic songs,
greeting each other as the day moved along.
They took no notice of people walking and
cars didn't bother them, they just kept squawking.
I couldn't go back to sleep no matter how hard I try.
the birds had much to say and they wouldn't be denied.
First stop the balcony, to listen to the call to pray
it got to where without it I couldn't start my day.
Getting ready to go, shoes lined up neatly by the door,
because we didn't wear shoes inside on the floor.
Finally on to the Little Cafe for çay and pastry
I missed the food there, it was always so tasty.
I could drink çay (tea) until I floated away.
Just sit there and watch the cats as they played.
I spent 30 days in Istanbul Türkiye that year
with friends that I'll always hold dear.
I've fond memories of çay, the birds and the balcony
May Allah always continue to bless me.
©SamHarty
A grave in Istanbul
He fell down the cargo hold, a long fall
the hold’s floor was made of wood and lessened
the brutal slam when he hit bottom.
He got up, waved to us and climbed the iron-
the ladder onto the deck, he said he was ok
He was not ok!
He had about him something vanishing like
his turn of service was over, all he had to do
was packing his suitcase and leaving but lingered
the ship had been his home for many months
He stood on deck on the vanishing day, looking
towards the city’s lights, he appeared brittle.
No, he was not hungry smoked cigarettes and
had dreamy eyes.
He was there, but he wasn’t there, which made us uneasy
the bright light over his head, a saintly halo.
He went to bed early had been a trying day
In the morning, he was beyond awakening
a broken body, resting for all eternity.
I praise Thee!
Solace of
Time and devotion,
Amity of nation.
Notion of giving,
Bread of
Utopia and
Love.
Picture the scene a flat is raging with fire
Caused by an electrical fault or loose wire
A open window is the route to escape
Old in structure and square in shape
The mother cries to the people below
My children need saving them I must throw
Blankets were thrown to soften the blow
Hard to comprehend this story I know
The children were safe and mother was too
A burning flat in Istanbul the story is true
Without doubt all are very lucky to survive
Grateful for sure to be living and alive
We had the craziest time in Istanbul
We were stuck for three months during
the ongoing Pandemic
The bustling city lost it’s rhythm and rhyme
Like a heart that misses a beat one day at that time
The streets grew empty the Café’s were shut
The people were few and the weekends were curfew
There was no Funicular to greet me.
Hotels were shutting one after another
We changed eight different ones till it was time to go
We were lucky and chose to stay in front of the
Bosphorus Sea once more
This was a blessing and a clincher for me.
My companions now were the gulls
And the different ships and hulls
And the best of all was the wide open sea.
We would walk the promenade
And keep ourselves fit so that the virus doesn’t
give us a hit.
The sea was our guide and friend
When we felt lost then
To our utter delight one day we saw
Dolphins swimming in the sea
From that moment I knew nature was
the truest companion who stood by me
We braved it all and came home safe to
Our beautiful family.
Dated: 20.08.2020
Choice 2: Craziest time in..
It's in sadness and sorrow do we find unity
Sometimes it easier to talk it than show it
Terrorism affect every person rich or poor
Anger it is real when it comes to your door
Nothing is so remote in the modern world
But let us remember those who have died
Until we trully decide to fight the terrorist
Lives will continue to so brutally taken again
Istanbul bridge,please take me home.
Take me back to the Anatolian empire,where you used your strength to pull Asia and
Europe together.
Then carried the weight of history and urbanization on your back, you took them to civilization.
Please take me to a land of peace,tourism and productivity,
a land of beauty,liberty and hospitality.
Istanbul bridge,please take me home.
Take me back to the beginning of Noah's new world,built on hope,justice and promises.
A beginning that united Man,animals and nature.
A land that oceans boast of,
mountains stand for,
clouds bleed for,
and the sun survives for.
Take me up the hills of Ephesus where Mary slept in peace,
down to the Mediterranean sea that witnessed the war caused by beauty between the Spartans and Trojans.
Take me from the east to the west and from the west to the east,to make new friends overseas.
From the north to the south and the south to the north,to unite nations across boarders. .
istanbul bridge,please take me home
Bir daha gelsem dunyaya Istanbulda
Sehrazatlarin atlari kosturur mu ruyalarimi
Bu ne cenk dipsiz ucurum yedi tepede
Bir girdaptir askim dalgalarin solugunda
Dogmamis her nepze sensiz koklanan erguvana hasret
Tasirmi yuregim sensiz ciga dusmus martilarin kanatlarini
Bir ucurum sensizlik goge donmus yasemin poyrazinda
Her nefesimde dus desem yuregime lodosun tersden eser
This famous city of antiquity
had its name changed in 1930.
We once called it Constantinople.
Today, it is known as Istanbul.
People located here in North America,
see it on the map bridging Europe and Asia.
Once capital city of the Byzantines,
it has witnessed many bloody battle scenes.
This is the citadel the Fourth Crusade raided.
Because of this, they were excommunicated.
This is a city rich in culture and history.
The Turks took it from the Greeks in 1453.
Does the name change seem as one of many quirks?
Do you want to know why? Just ask any of the Turks.
Yildizlarin elimde ucar
Gozlenmis anilar gune durmus
Egirdesi gunum gerkefinde nakis
Bir yudum su karlarinda erimis yuregim
Nefesinde dogmus gun
Hasretine acamayan gulum
Kesmekesin binbir cumbusu
Sarildigim yar kandiller
Yedi direkler cadirimda
Yakamozlar acmis lalelere
Eritirmi karlarin gunesi sensizligi
Raksa sevgi serefesi minarelerin
Incirler tirmanmis mihrabin duvarlarina
Dalgalarin kucaklar gerkefimi
Bir daha gelsem dunyaya Istanbulda
Sehrazatlarin atlari kosturur mu ruyalarimi
Bu ne cenk dipsiz ucurum yedi tepede
Bir girdaptir askim dalgalarin solugunda
Dogmamis her nepze sensiz koklanan erguvana hasret
Tasirmi yuregim sensiz ciga dusmus martilarin kanatlarini
Bir ucurum sensizlik goge donmus yasemin poyrazinda
Her nefesimde dus desem yuregime lodosun tersden eser
Your expectations are carved into my eyes...
Their shapes melt in my dreams
The face seen in your postcards
Is not that of your soul Istanbul...
Living apart does not change your seas
Your waiting landscapes offer themselves
Thoughts do not remain still
Istanbul rests its weight upon my loneliness...
White fish swim in your living past
Seagulls float in your memories
Obliterated friendships stay awake till dawn
Anatolia rises from your horizons Istanbul...
by Uzeyir Lokman CAYCI
Traduit par Yakup YURT en français
French free verse translated into English free verse
by F.J. Bergmann., 2002
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