CEMAL SUREYA
(1931 - 1990)

TWO HEARTS

The shortest way between two hearts: 
Two arms 
Extending to each other and occasionally 
Touching another by finger tips only.

I'm running to the place of stairs, 
Waiting is the body-acquiring of time; 
I've got here very early, I can't find you, 
It feels like something is being rehearsed.

Birds are gathering to migrate 
I wish I would have loved you just for this.

FACE OF PHEASANT

Face of pheasant is an atmospheric event 
I've learnt this from the hunter-columnist of Luck 
Wild ducks beat wings on water 
By turns to prevent the frost.

And here is your Besiktas with its large buoy, 
Throwing an intricate century back; 
My God, did you create this long Anatolia In your childhood days!

I and the scenarist lady are sitting on the same bench 
I wish I would have loved you just for this.

AS A COMPUTER

Gazali used a lake as a computer, 
Carrying pragmas to the Seljuks, 
He denied the four directions, always looked up, 
Assuming a first stupidity as a knot.

So the Sufis were considered that they committed suicide 
After the mirror in front of them had broken, 
Again, that's why the star of Ottoman 
Started flying at that instant it was born,

I saw the footprints are packing up the ground 
I wish I would have loved you just for this.

AT AFYON TRAIN STATION

Remember that little girl at Afyon train station,
Who took off her shoes when she got on the train; 
Think of the Varto earthquake, a box of milk powder, 
And a bra sent as charity by the West.

The man whitewashed the walls of his house with the milk powder, 
His wife kept the bra that was unknown to her, 
She planned to use it as earmuffs in winter; 
My God, was it really in your childhood days?...

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




Translated by Coskun Yerli
(Nar, Kasim - Aralik 1996, no.12)

Cemal Süreya (born 1931 in Erzincan; died 1990 in Istanbul) was a Turkish poet and writer. He graduated from the Political Sciences Faculty of Ankara University. He was the editor-in-chief of the Papirus literary magazine. Cemal Süreya is a notable member of the Second New Generation of Turkish poetry, an abstract and postmodern movement created as a backlash against the more popular-based Garip movement. Love, mainly through its erotic entity, is a popular theme of Süreya's works. Süreya's poems and articles were published in magazines like Yeditepe, Yazko, Pazar Postası, Yeni Ulus, Oluşum, Türkiye Yazıları, Politika, Aydınlık, and Somut.