February 24th, 2013

HULKI AKTUNC 
(1949)
from SONGS

Twenty-Forth Song

We belong to the sect of fire, our garments always aflame. 

Thirty-Fifth Song

During that year he did not see anyone along 
The steppes he kept going on
Horses and donkeys he thoght unbroken 
Even the mules he did not near and along 
The vast steppes kept going all alone
His special tongue he shouldn't forget 
And the laconic word in that language 
Which covered all forms of reproach and praying, along 
The vast steppes kept him always murmuring on
He sang songs twisting their tunes 
Changing the order of words moaning 
And forcing all great joys and pains to tears 
Adorned them with unexpected laughter 
He called out his own name for days and along 
The vast steppes kept going on
He ate wild-tulip stems chewed black-cactus 
Lost in deep thought he defacted and peed 
Began to envision all the faces he knew 
Concentrating hard he created a vision of each 
From oasis and river to the sea turning sandheaps to water 
Along the vast steppes kept vanishing on
Hoping never to meet himself again along 
The vast steppes and off was gone. 

Translated by Tomris Uyar