t.a.s.k. turkish association for secularism and kemalism

T.A.S.K.T.A.S.K.Turkish Association for Secularism and Turkish Association for Secularism and KemalismKemalism


TTurkishurkish

AAssociation forssociation for

SSecularism andecularism and

KKemalismemalism


Objectives

emphasizing the need and importance of secularism in protecting human rights, freedoms and democracy

informing the academic community at PSU and urging them to take action against radical religious activities all around the world


Secularism

Secularity does not only mean the separation Secularity does not only mean the separation of religious and state affairs, but also the of religious and state affairs, but also the respect for respect for freedom of moral sensefreedom of moral sense, , worshipworship and and religionreligion for every individual. for every individual.

Religion is a moral value and religious Religion is a moral value and religious practice is a private matter between the practice is a private matter between the person and the divine being in which he/she person and the divine being in which he/she believes.believes.

Religion shall never be used in an official Religion shall never be used in an official capacity to enforce one group's religious capacity to enforce one group's religious opinions or beliefs on another even though opinions or beliefs on another even though the group in demand is in majority.the group in demand is in majority.


Kemalism

defined, described, interpreted and restated defined, described, interpreted and restated by by

the association and its members as follows:the association and its members as follows: Secularism.Secularism. Real love of peace and mankind.Real love of peace and mankind. Peace in the nation, peace in the world. Peace in the nation, peace in the world.

Mankind is a single body and each nation a Mankind is a single body and each nation a part of that body.part of that body.

Being scientific and rational. Being scientific and rational.

Reformism.Reformism.

T.A.S.K. PresentsT.A.S.K. PresentsTurkish Association for Secularism and Turkish Association for Secularism and KemalismKemalism

POETRY NIGHTPOETRY NIGHT

DatDatee

November 4November 4thth

TimTimee

8.008.00 pmpm

PlacPlacee

135 Reber135 Reber

THE OPTIMISTHe never tore wings off flies when he

was little,Nor tied cans to cats’ tails,

Nor kept cockroaches in matchboxes,He didn’t destroy ants’ nests.

When he grew upThey did all that to him.

I was by his deathbed.‘Read me a poem’ he said,

‘About the sun, the sea

About mankind’s great achievements’


NAZIM HIKMET AHMED ARIF EDIP CANSEVER

PIR SULTAN ABDALCEMAL SUREYYA PABLO NERUDA


GULTEN AKIN AKGUN AKOVA ORHAN VELI KANIK

BEHCET NECATIGILATAOL BEHRAMOGLUMURATHAN MUNGAN

The water flowed,The water flowed,It showedIt showedWillow trees in its mirror,Willow trees in its mirror,Weeping willows washing their hair in the Weeping willows washing their hair in the

stream.stream.Red riders raced towards the sinking sun,Red riders raced towards the sinking sun,Their flaming swords drawn to strike the Their flaming swords drawn to strike the

willows.willows.Suddenly Suddenly like a bird like a bird

shot shotin the wingin the wing

a wounded horseman tumbled from his horse.a wounded horseman tumbled from his horse.He did not shout,He did not shout,Or call after those who passed,Or call after those who passed,He just looked with brimming eyesHe just looked with brimming eyes

At the flashing hooves of the riders receding.At the flashing hooves of the riders receding.Alas!Alas!

Alas that heAlas that heWill never lay again foaming necks of his Will never lay again foaming necks of his

galloping horses,galloping horses,Or brandish his sword chasing after the white Or brandish his sword chasing after the white

armies! Gradually hoof beats die away,armies! Gradually hoof beats die away,The riders are lost in the sunset. The riders are lost in the sunset.

NAZIM HIKMET 1902/1963

WEEPING WILLOW

Horsemen, horsemen, Horsemen, horsemen, red riders,red riders,Horses wind wingedHorses wind wingedHorses wind wing…Horses wind wing…Horses wind..Horses wind..Horses…Horses…Horse…Horse…

Life passed like the wind winged horsemen.Life passed like the wind winged horsemen.The sound of the running water stopped.The sound of the running water stopped.Shadows grew denserShadows grew denser

Colors were wiped away.Colors were wiped away.Black blinds came down,Black blinds came down,

On his blue eyes,On his blue eyes,The weeping willows leantThe weeping willows leant

Over his fair hair.Over his fair hair.

Don’t weep weeping willow,Don’t weep weeping willow,Don’t weep,Don’t weep,

In the dark mirror of water, don’t fold your In the dark mirror of water, don’t fold your hands,hands,

don’t fold your hands,don’t fold your hands,don’t weep.don’t weep.

Do you know you live in me bit by bit Do you know you live in me bit by bit Yet there is such a thing as being Yet there is such a thing as being

lovely with youlovely with youFor instance we drink raki and it is For instance we drink raki and it is As if a carnation were engulfing us.As if a carnation were engulfing us.Beside us a tree works with precisionBeside us a tree works with precisionMind and belly lose sense and sway.Mind and belly lose sense and sway.

You are bent on that carnation, I You are bent on that carnation, I take ittake it

And give it to you. And give it to you. You then pass it onYou then pass it onTo someone else.To someone else. And a greater beauty is reached.And a greater beauty is reached.Do you know, that someone else Do you know, that someone else

forwards it againforwards it againAnd lo the carnation quickens from And lo the carnation quickens from

hand to hand.hand to hand.

As you can see we augment this loveAs you can see we augment this loveWith warmth I dwell upon you, but With warmth I dwell upon you, but

that is not itthat is not itLook how like seven colors into white Look how like seven colors into white

translatedtranslatedEach into each silently we cast our Each into each silently we cast our

unison.unison.

EDIP CANSEVER 1928/1985

THE GRAVITATIONAL CARNATION

I walked awayI walked away you forgot your you forgot your hands on my facehands on my faceI felt ashamed of my sorrowsI felt ashamed of my sorrowsashamed of my lonelinessashamed of my lonelinesssuddenly in the ruthless suddenly in the ruthless wisdom of our teenswisdom of our teensI felt ashamedI felt ashamedof the dreams that poured out of the dreams that poured out those maledictionsthose maledictions of love of love of the rain. of the rain.you forgot your marbles on my you forgot your marbles on my facefaceyou forgot your smell in my lifeyou forgot your smell in my lifepouring a gallon of gasoline on pouring a gallon of gasoline on my memoriesmy memoriesI set fire to our joys. I attachedI set fire to our joys. I attached to to your hairyour hairthe whole splendor of my the whole splendor of my favorite sorrow,favorite sorrow, its its winds,winds,there, yours is the autumn alsothere, yours is the autumn alsowhat else do you want of mewhat else do you want of methere, yours is the most there, yours is the most attractive suicide alsoattractive suicide also

KUCUK ISKENDER

1965

BEEYOU TEEFUL

https://webmail.psu.edu/webmail/dfs/users/m/u/muy111/attach/kiskender%2Ejpg

I walked awayI walked away you forgot your islands on my face you forgot your islands on my faceyou forgot your eyes in my pastyou forgot your eyes in my pastI felt ashamed of my desiresI felt ashamed of my desiresof my advanced ageof my advanced ageand of the rainand of the rain I am sick and tired I am sick and tiredand you: sepia jazz kid abandoned by the cityand you: sepia jazz kid abandoned by the cityyou forgot every chance you had in my unexpected death!you forgot every chance you had in my unexpected death!

they packed me and took me somewherethey packed me and took me somewhereon my face you forgoton my face you forgot your future your future

And it was at that age...Poetry And it was at that age...Poetry

arrived arrived in search of me. I don't know, I in search of me. I don't know, I don't know where don't know where it came from, from winter or a it came from, from winter or a river. river. I don't know how or when, I don't know how or when, no, they were not voices, they were no, they were not voices, they were not not words, nor silence, words, nor silence, but from a street I was summoned, but from a street I was summoned, from the branches of night, from the branches of night, abruptly from the others, abruptly from the others, among violent fires among violent fires or returning alone, or returning alone, there I was without a face there I was without a face

and it touched me.and it touched me.

PABLO NERUDA 1904/1973

POETRY

I did not know what to say, I did not know what to say, my mouth my mouth had no way had no way with names with names my eyes were blind, my eyes were blind, and something started in and something started in my soul, my soul, fever or forgotten wings, fever or forgotten wings, and I made my own way, and I made my own way, deciphering deciphering that fire that fire and I wrote the first faint and I wrote the first faint line, line, faint, without substance, faint, without substance, pure pure nonsense, nonsense, pure wisdom pure wisdom of someone who knows of someone who knows nothing,nothing,

and suddenly I saw and suddenly I saw the heavens the heavens unfastened unfastened and open, and open, planets, planets, palpitating plantations, palpitating plantations,

shadow perforated, shadow perforated, riddled riddled with arrows, fire and flowers, with arrows, fire and flowers, the winding night, the the winding night, the universe. universe.

And I, infinitesmal being, And I, infinitesmal being, drunk with the great starry drunk with the great starry void, void, likeness, image of likeness, image of mystery, mystery, I felt myself a pure part I felt myself a pure part of the abyss, of the abyss, I wheeled with the stars, I wheeled with the stars, my heart broke free on the my heart broke free on the open sky.open sky.

I had a belovedI had a belovedwho sent me the sand of his who sent me the sand of his hometownhometown

I, however, always wondered I, however, always wondered about the wind of that landabout the wind of that land

whether it was tamed crazy whether it was tamed crazy continuouscontinuous

whether it appeared suddenly in whether it appeared suddenly in the skythe sky

hurling what it gathered from the hurling what it gathered from the groundground

there were cities we later sharedthere were cities we later sharedthe wind masterful I inexperiencedthe wind masterful I inexperiencedit swept by violently, came and it swept by violently, came and

wentwentfilling my eyes with sandfilling my eyes with sand

GULTEN AKIN

1933

SAND

if one day our love flies away from us, if one day our love flies away from us, my love, my love,

like smoke with a rucksack at its back like smoke with a rucksack at its back

if our love goes away, my love, if our love goes away, my love, somewhere we haven't dreamt ofsomewhere we haven't dreamt of

like the dust fallen off from the wing like the dust fallen off from the wing of a butterfly hit by an angel of a butterfly hit by an angel

or like a broken branch floating in a or like a broken branch floating in a waterfall waterfall

trust only your wings trust only your wings

life is a door handle which we hold life is a door handle which we hold tightly at the edge of a void we tightly at the edge of a void we created ourselves created ourselves

and love, a violin that fell into our and love, a violin that fell into our deepest well deepest well

when the roads we walk on get when the roads we walk on get narrower narrower

and the stairs we step on collapseand the stairs we step on collapse

my love trust only your wings my love trust only your wings

AKGUN AKOVA

1962

TRUST ONLY YOUR WINGS

lovers know that lovers know that spring is a shower of birds spring is a shower of birds the taboos created by those the taboos created by those

who are unable to love who are unable to love disappear in the childish disappear in the childish

shades of summer shades of summer and love goes to pieces in our and love goes to pieces in our

mouths as autumn mouths as autumn dissolves like a piece of dissolves like a piece of yellow candy yellow candy

and if there is talk of an and if there is talk of an unending winter, unending winter,

my love, beloved, my love, beloved, trust only your wings trust only your wings when I hold out my hand to when I hold out my hand to

show you the ships show you the ships there's a captain at the helm there's a captain at the helm

fainted by the odor of fainted by the odor of blood blood

in the horizon a country in the horizon a country floating towards the heart floating towards the heart of fireof fire

and a swarm of locusts coming and a swarm of locusts coming out of the suitcases out of the suitcases

as the feathers of doves hit by as the feathers of doves hit by fighters in the air scatter fighters in the air scatter away away

my love my love comb your hair on the ever-comb your hair on the ever-

changing maps changing maps and trust only your wings and trust only your wings if they take me away one day if they take me away one day

with my hands tied with my hands tied to places unknown by my poems to places unknown by my poems

and every other soul and every other soul stand on the rusty shoulder of stand on the rusty shoulder of

the world like a migratory bird the world like a migratory bird flown out from my forehead flown out from my forehead

and when you take off heading and when you take off heading for my absence fear not, for my absence fear not,

my love fear not my love fear not

trust only your wingstrust only your wings

Before dawn,Before dawn,

While the sea is still snow-white, you While the sea is still snow-white, you will set sail;will set sail;

The grip of the oars in your palms,The grip of the oars in your palms,

And in your heart the joy of toil and And in your heart the joy of toil and vigor,vigor,

You will go.You will go.

In the roll and sway of the nets, you In the roll and sway of the nets, you will go.will go.

For welcome, fish will appear on your For welcome, fish will appear on your coursecourse

Delighting you.Delighting you.

As you shake the nets,As you shake the nets,

Scale by scale, the sea will journey Scale by scale, the sea will journey into your hands.into your hands.

ORHAN VELI KANIK

1914/1950

TOWARDS FREEDOM

When silence pervades the When silence pervades the souls of seagullssouls of seagulls

In the cemetery of the rocks,In the cemetery of the rocks,

All of a sudden,All of a sudden,

All hell will break loose on All hell will break loose on the horizon:the horizon:

Mermaids will scuttle and Mermaids will scuttle and birds scurry...birds scurry...

Saturnalia and festivals, Saturnalia and festivals, orgies and carnivals,orgies and carnivals,

Bridal processions, Bridal processions, masquerades, revelries, masquerades, revelries, carousals...carousals...

Heeeyy!Heeeyy!

Whaddya waiting for, man, Whaddya waiting for, man, jump in the sea!jump in the sea!

Forget who's waiting for you Forget who's waiting for you back there.back there.

Don't you see: Freedom is all Don't you see: Freedom is all around you.around you.

Be the sail, the oar, the Be the sail, the oar, the rudder, the fish, the rudder, the fish, the water,water,

And go, go wherever you can.And go, go wherever you can.

Brothers Brothers Do not pay attention to my blonde Do not pay attention to my blonde

hairhairI am an AsianI am an AsianDo not pay attention to my blue eyesDo not pay attention to my blue eyesI am an AfricanI am an AfricanThere is no shadow under the trees There is no shadow under the trees

where I livewhere I livejust like the ones in your placejust like the ones in your placeIn our land the bread is in lion’s In our land the bread is in lion’s

mouthmouthDragons wait at the fountainsDragons wait at the fountainsand people live only fifty yearsand people live only fifty yearsjust like the ones in your placejust like the ones in your placeDo not pay attention to my blonde Do not pay attention to my blonde

hairhairI am an AsianI am an AsianDo not pay attention to my blue eyesDo not pay attention to my blue eyesI am an AfricanI am an Africaneighty percent do not know how to eighty percent do not know how to

read and writeread and writepoems learned by word of mouth poems learned by word of mouth

becoming folk songsbecoming folk songspoems could become flags where I poems could become flags where I

livelivejust like the ones in your placejust like the ones in your place


BROTHERS

BrothersBrothers

your poems should be able to your poems should be able to till the soil next to till the soil next to underfed oxenunderfed oxen

they should be able to get they should be able to get into swamps in rice fieldsinto swamps in rice fields

up to their kneesup to their knees

They should be able to ask all They should be able to ask all the questionsthe questions

They should be able to They should be able to collect all the lightcollect all the light

They should be able to stand They should be able to stand in street cornersin street corners

Just like milestones our Just like milestones our poemspoems

They should be able to They should be able to identify the approaching identify the approaching enemyenemy

they should be able to play they should be able to play the drumsthe drums

and till there is no human and till there is no human who is not freewho is not free

and till there are no more and till there are no more nuclear cloudsnuclear clouds

they should be able to give they should be able to give their possessions money their possessions money mind and lifemind and life

for the great freedom , our for the great freedom , our poemspoems

There’s something I have learned There’s something I have learned from what I’ve lived:from what I’ve lived:

If you’re to live something, live it If you’re to live something, live it to its fullestto its fullest

Your beloved should fall exhausted Your beloved should fall exhausted from your kissesfrom your kisses

You should fall exhausted from You should fall exhausted from smelling a flowersmelling a flower

One can watch the sky for hoursOne can watch the sky for hoursCan for hours watch the sea, a Can for hours watch the sea, a

bird, a childbird, a childTo live on earth is to mingle with itTo live on earth is to mingle with itGrowing roots that cannot be Growing roots that cannot be

eradicatederadicated

When you hug a friend you should When you hug a friend you should hug him vigorouslyhug him vigorously

You should fight with all your You should fight with all your muscles, body, passion muscles, body, passion

And once you stretch out on the And once you stretch out on the hot sand hot sand

You should rest like a grain of You should rest like a grain of sand, a leaf, a stonesand, a leaf, a stone

ATAOL BEHRAMOGLU

1942

THERE’S SOMETHING I HAVE LEARNED FROM WHAT I’VE

LIVED

One should listen to all the One should listen to all the beautiful music on earthbeautiful music on earth

So as to fill all his being with So as to fill all his being with sounds and songssounds and songs

One should dive into life as ifOne should dive into life as ifDiving from a rock into an Diving from a rock into an

emerald seaemerald sea

Distant lands should lure Distant lands should lure you, people you do not you, people you do not knowknow

You should burn with the You should burn with the desire to read all the desire to read all the books, to knowbooks, to know all the lives all the lives

You should not exchange for You should not exchange for anything the pleasure of anything the pleasure of drinking a glass of waterdrinking a glass of water

All the joys should fill you All the joys should fill you with the yearning to livewith the yearning to live

And you should live grief also, And you should live grief also, with honor, with all your with honor, with all your beingbeing

For grief also, like joy, matures For grief also, like joy, matures a persona person

Your blood should mingle with Your blood should mingle with the great circulation of lifethe great circulation of life

In your veins must circulate the In your veins must circulate the eternal fresh blood of lifeeternal fresh blood of life

There is something I have There is something I have learned from what I’ve lived:learned from what I’ve lived:

If you’re to live, live big, as if If you’re to live, live big, as if you are mingling with the you are mingling with the rivers,rivers, the sky, the whole universe the sky, the whole universe

For what we call a life span is a For what we call a life span is a gift to lifegift to life

And life is a gift to mankindAnd life is a gift to mankind

Your love never left me.Your love never left me.I hungered and thirstedI hungered and thirsted

in the treacherous, dark night.in the treacherous, dark night.My soul was stranger, my soul was My soul was stranger, my soul was

silentsilentmy soul was shattered...my soul was shattered...

And my hands were handcuffedAnd my hands were handcuffedI was without tobacco or sleepI was without tobacco or sleepbut your love never left me...but your love never left me...

AHMED ARIF

1927/1991

YOUR LOVE NEVER LEFT ME

You are going to ask: and where are the You are going to ask: and where are the lilacs?lilacs?

and the poppy-petal led metaphysics?and the poppy-petal led metaphysics?and the rain repeatedly spattering and the rain repeatedly spattering its words and drilling them full its words and drilling them full of apertures and birds?of apertures and birds?I'll tell you all the news.I'll tell you all the news.I lived in a suburb,I lived in a suburb,a suburb of Madrid, with bells,a suburb of Madrid, with bells,and clocks, and trees.and clocks, and trees.From there you could look outFrom there you could look outover Castille's dry face:over Castille's dry face:a leather ocean.a leather ocean.My house was calledMy house was calledthe house of flowers, because in every crannythe house of flowers, because in every crannygeraniums burst: it wasgeraniums burst: it wasa good-looking house with its dogs and a good-looking house with its dogs and

children.children.Remember, Raul?Remember, Raul?Eh, Rafel? Federico, do you rememberEh, Rafel? Federico, do you rememberfrom under the groundfrom under the groundmy balconies on whichmy balconies on whichthe light of June drowned flowers in your the light of June drowned flowers in your

mouth?mouth?

PABLO NERUDA 1904/1973

I'M EXPLAINING A FEW THINGS

Brother, my brother!Brother, my brother!Everything Everything loud with big voices, the salt of loud with big voices, the salt of

merchandises, merchandises, pile-ups of palpitating bread,pile-ups of palpitating bread,the stalls of my suburb of the stalls of my suburb of

Arguelles with its statueArguelles with its statuelike a drained inkwell in a swirl like a drained inkwell in a swirl

of hake:of hake:oil flowed into spoons,oil flowed into spoons,a deep bayinga deep bayingof feet and hands swelled in the of feet and hands swelled in the

streets,streets,meters, liters, the sharpmeters, liters, the sharpmeasure of life,measure of life,stacked-up fish,stacked-up fish,the texture of roofs with a cold the texture of roofs with a cold

sun in whichsun in whichthe weather vane falters,the weather vane falters,the fine, frenzied ivory of the fine, frenzied ivory of

potatoes,potatoes,wave on wave of tomatoes wave on wave of tomatoes

rolling down the sea.rolling down the sea.

And one morning all that was And one morning all that was burning,burning,

one morning the bonfireone morning the bonfireslept out of the earthslept out of the earthdevouring human beings --devouring human beings --

and from then on fire,and from then on fire,gunpowder from then on,gunpowder from then on,and from then on blood.and from then on blood.Bandits with planes and Bandits with planes and

Moors,Moors,bandits with finger-rings and bandits with finger-rings and

duchesses,duchesses,bandits with black friars bandits with black friars

spattering blessingsspattering blessingscame through the sky to kill came through the sky to kill

childrenchildrenand the blood of children ran and the blood of children ran

through the streetsthrough the streetswithout fuss, like children's without fuss, like children's

blood. blood.

Jackals that the jackals would Jackals that the jackals would despise,despise,

stones that the dry thistle stones that the dry thistle would bite on and spit out,would bite on and spit out,

vipers that the vipers would vipers that the vipers would abominate!abominate!

Face to face with you I have Face to face with you I have seen the bloodseen the blood

of Spain tower like a tideto of Spain tower like a tideto drown you in one wavedrown you in one wave

of pride and knives!of pride and knives!

TreacherousTreacherous

generals: see my dead house,generals: see my dead house,

look at broken Spain :from look at broken Spain :from every house burning metal every house burning metal flowsflows

instead of flowers,instead of flowers,

from every socket of Spainfrom every socket of Spain

Spain emergesSpain emerges

and from every dead child a and from every dead child a rifle with eyes,rifle with eyes,

and from every crime bullets and from every crime bullets are bornare born

which will one day findwhich will one day findthe bull's eye of your hearts. the bull's eye of your hearts.

And you'll ask: why doesn't his And you'll ask: why doesn't his poetrypoetry

speak of dreams and leavespeak of dreams and leavesand the great volcanoes of his sand the great volcanoes of his

native land?native land?

Come and see the blood Come and see the blood in the streets.in the streets.

Come and seeCome and seeThe blood in the The blood in the

streets.streets.Come and see the bloodCome and see the bloodIn the streets!In the streets!

……It is sometime after midnightIt is sometime after midnightI can hear the voices of the carsI can hear the voices of the carsThe voice of the water that the tires The voice of the water that the tires

splashsplashIt rained like crazy todayIt rained like crazy todaySky was like an oceanSky was like an oceanYou know, they say that nature cries You know, they say that nature cries

when it rainswhen it rainsI don’t think nature cares who is I don’t think nature cares who is

leaving or who is deadleaving or who is deadThis is just sweet dreams of human This is just sweet dreams of human

beingbeingRight now I am writing youRight now I am writing youEven though I don’t know whom you Even though I don’t know whom you

love, butlove, butI know you don’t love meI know you don’t love meI know from the night, the candle, I know from the night, the candle,

the clockthe clockAnd from all the hearts filled with And from all the hearts filled with

painpainI know you did not love me anyways.I know you did not love me anyways.

MURAT YASAR

1980

THE DARK NIGHT

Translated by :SULE ERGUN

The rough man entered the lover's gardenThe rough man entered the lover's gardenIt is woods now, my beautiful one, it is It is woods now, my beautiful one, it is

woods,woods,Gathering roses, he has broken their stemsGathering roses, he has broken their stemsThey are dry now, my beautiful one, they They are dry now, my beautiful one, they

are dryare dry

In this square our hide is stretchedIn this square our hide is stretchedBlessed be, we saw our friend off to GodBlessed be, we saw our friend off to GodOne day, too, black dust must cover usOne day, too, black dust must cover usWe will rot, my beautiful one, we will rotWe will rot, my beautiful one, we will rot

He himself reads and He also writesHe himself reads and He also writesGod's holy hand has closed her crescent God's holy hand has closed her crescent

eyebrowseyebrowsYour peers are wandering in ParadiseYour peers are wandering in ParadiseThey are free, my beautiful one, they are They are free, my beautiful one, they are

freefree

PIR SULTAN ABDAL

Whatever religion you are, I'll worship it tooWhatever religion you are, I'll worship it tooI will be torn off with you even the Day of JudgementI will be torn off with you even the Day of JudgementBend for once, let me kiss you on your white neckBend for once, let me kiss you on your white neckJust stay there for a moment, my beautiful one, just stay Just stay there for a moment, my beautiful one, just stay

therethere

I'm Pir Sultan Abdal, I start from the rootI'm Pir Sultan Abdal, I start from the rootI eat the kernel and throw out the evil weedI eat the kernel and throw out the evil weedAnd weave from a thousand flowers to one hive honeyAnd weave from a thousand flowers to one hive honeyI am an honest bee, my beautiful one, an honest bee.I am an honest bee, my beautiful one, an honest bee.

It looks like It looks like

Our wager will take some Our wager will take some timetime

Leaving work and occupation Leaving work and occupation

I moved to a house facing the I moved to a house facing the cemetery cemetery

Death you can not cheat me Death you can not cheat me

The wager is still on The wager is still on

BEHCET NECATIGIL

1916/1979

THE WAGER

Summer is waning, fallSummer is waning, fallas for us Russian dolls who never grow as for us Russian dolls who never grow

at allat allin a dream we met and in a dream we in a dream we met and in a dream we

partedpartedcome on, it's time that one of us should come on, it's time that one of us should

wake the other upwake the other upeach of us inside the darkness of the each of us inside the darkness of the

other captiveother captiveeach of us inside the snowdrift of the each of us inside the snowdrift of the

other buriedother buriedfar from the long winters of different ilk far from the long winters of different ilk

for each cocoonfor each cocooncome on, it's time that one of us should come on, it's time that one of us should

wake the other upwake the other upthe writs of our youth have passed. The the writs of our youth have passed. The

farms are now desertedfarms are now desertedthe nests of the storks emptied with the the nests of the storks emptied with the

falling rainsfalling rainswe have questions now at hand; each we have questions now at hand; each

day keeps doling out to usday keeps doling out to uswhat's written down for those who what's written down for those who

linger on summer's ending summer's linger on summer's ending summer's ending summer's endingending summer's ending

Well I know itWell I know itagain a June again a June

again July and once more augustagain July and once more august

MURATHAN MUNGAN

1955

THE END OF SUMMER

Remember that little girl at Afyon Remember that little girl at Afyon train station,train station,

Who took off her shoes when she Who took off her shoes when she got on the train; got on the train;

Think of the Varto earthquake, a Think of the Varto earthquake, a box of milk powder, box of milk powder,

And a bra sent as charity by the And a bra sent as charity by the West.West.

The man whitewashed the walls of The man whitewashed the walls of his house with the milk powder, his house with the milk powder,

His wife kept the bra that was His wife kept the bra that was unknown to her, unknown to her,

She planned to use it as earmuffs in She planned to use it as earmuffs in winter; winter;

My God, was it really in your My God, was it really in your childhood days?...childhood days?...

Lots of people sitting on thresholds Lots of people sitting on thresholds I wish I would have loved you just I wish I would have loved you just

for this. for this.

CEMAL SUREYA

1931/1990

AT AFYON TRAIN STATION

Living is no laughing matter:Living is no laughing matter: you must live with great seriousnessyou must live with great seriousness like a squirrel, for example-like a squirrel, for example- I mean without looking for something beyond and I mean without looking for something beyond and

above living,above living, I mean living must be your whole occupation.I mean living must be your whole occupation.Living is no laughing matter:Living is no laughing matter: you must take it seriously,you must take it seriously, so much so and to such a degreeso much so and to such a degree that, for example, your hands tied behind your back,that, for example, your hands tied behind your back, your back to the wall,your back to the wall, or else in a laboratoryor else in a laboratory in your white coat and safety glasses,in your white coat and safety glasses, you can die for people-you can die for people- even for people whose faces you've never seen,even for people whose faces you've never seen, even though you know livingeven though you know living is the most real, the most beautiful thing.is the most real, the most beautiful thing. I mean, you must take living so seriouslyI mean, you must take living so seriously that even at seventy, for example, you'll plant that even at seventy, for example, you'll plant

olive trees-olive trees- and not for your children, either,and not for your children, either, but because although you fear death you don't but because although you fear death you don't

believe it,believe it, because living, I mean, weighs because living, I mean, weighs

heavier.heavier.


ON LEAVING

I

Let's say you're seriously ill, need Let's say you're seriously ill, need surgery -surgery -

which is to say we might not getwhich is to say we might not get from the white table.from the white table.Even though it's impossible not to feel Even though it's impossible not to feel

sadsad about going a little too soon,about going a little too soon,we'll still laugh at the jokes being told,we'll still laugh at the jokes being told,we'll look out the window to see it's we'll look out the window to see it's

raining,raining,or still wait anxiouslyor still wait anxiously for the latest newscast ...for the latest newscast ...Let's say we're at the front-Let's say we're at the front- for something worth fighting for, for something worth fighting for,

say.say.There, in the first offensive, on that very There, in the first offensive, on that very

day,day, we might fall on our face, dead.we might fall on our face, dead.

II

We'll know this with a curious anger,We'll know this with a curious anger, but we'll still worry ourselves to deathbut we'll still worry ourselves to death about the outcome of the war, which about the outcome of the war, which could last years.could last years.Let's say we're in prisonLet's say we're in prisonand close to fifty,and close to fifty,and we have eighteen more years, say,and we have eighteen more years, say, before the iron doors will before the iron doors will open.open.We'll still live with the outside,We'll still live with the outside,with its people and animals, struggle with its people and animals, struggle and wind-and wind- I mean with the outside I mean with the outside beyond the walls.beyond the walls.I mean, however and wherever we are,I mean, however and wherever we are, we must live as if we will never die.we must live as if we will never die.

This earth will grow cold,This earth will grow cold,a star among starsa star among stars and one of the smallest,and one of the smallest,a gilded mote on blue velvet-a gilded mote on blue velvet- I mean this, our great earth.I mean this, our great earth.This earth will grow cold one day,This earth will grow cold one day,not like a block of icenot like a block of iceor a dead cloud evenor a dead cloud evenbut like an empty walnut it will roll alongbut like an empty walnut it will roll along in pitch-black space ...in pitch-black space ...You must grieve for this right nowYou must grieve for this right now-you have to feel this sorrow now--you have to feel this sorrow now-for the world must be loved this muchfor the world must be loved this much if you're going to say ``I if you're going to say ``I lived'' ...lived'' ...

III

Neither to be Tahir is a shameNeither to be Tahir is a shameNor being ZuhreNor being ZuhreEven to dieEven to dieBecause of love is not shameful,Because of love is not shameful,The thing is to be able to be Tahir and The thing is to be able to be Tahir and

ZuhreZuhreThat is due to the heart.That is due to the heart.

For instance while fighting at a barricadeFor instance while fighting at a barricadeOr while going out to explore the North Or while going out to explore the North

PolePoleFor example while tryingFor example while tryinga serum in your veinsa serum in your veinsIs it a shame to die?Is it a shame to die?

You love the world at your full speedYou love the world at your full speedBut it is not aware of thatBut it is not aware of thatYou do not want to be separated from worldYou do not want to be separated from worldBut it will from youBut it will from youNamely because of the fact that you like Namely because of the fact that you like

appleappleIs it necessary for the apple to like you?Is it necessary for the apple to like you?That is if Zuhre did not love Tahir anymoreThat is if Zuhre did not love Tahir anymoreElse never lovedElse never lovedWhat could Tahir lose from his own?What could Tahir lose from his own?


MATTER OF TAHIR AND ZUHRE

Today is Sunday. Today is Sunday.

For the first time they took me out For the first time they took me out into the sun today.into the sun today.

And for the first time in my life I And for the first time in my life I was aghast that the sky is so far was aghast that the sky is so far away away

and so blue and so blue

and so vast and so vast

I stood there without a I stood there without a motion.motion.

Then I sat on the ground with Then I sat on the ground with respectful devotion leaning respectful devotion leaning against the white wall.against the white wall.

Who cares about the waves with Who cares about the waves with which I yearn to rollwhich I yearn to roll

Or about strife or freedom or my Or about strife or freedom or my wife right now.wife right now.

The soil, the sun and me...The soil, the sun and me...

I feel joyful and how.I feel joyful and how.

NAZIM’S GRAVE IN MOSCOW

TODAY IS SUNDAY

T.A.S.K. PresentsT.A.S.K. PresentsTurkish Association for Secularism and Turkish Association for Secularism and KemalismKemalism

POETRY NIGHTPOETRY NIGHT

DatDatee

November 4November 4thth

TimTimee

8.008.00 pmpm

PlacPlacee

135 Reber135 Reber

THE OPTIMISTHe never tore wings off flies when he

was little,Nor tied cans to cats’ tails,

Nor kept cockroaches in matchboxes,He didn’t destroy ants’ nests.

When he grew upThey did all that to him.

I was by his deathbed.‘Read me a poem’ he said,

‘About the sun, the sea

About mankind’s great achievements’

t.a.s.k. turkish association for secularism and kemalism

Documents

kemalism turkish association

importance of secularism

presentsturkish association

dont weep

weeping willows

red riders

religious practice

separation of religious