ILHAN BERK
(1918 - 2008)

THE NAME OF PAIN

Slowly quietly gold is collected under your command slowly quietly
Slowly quietly wheat is distributed under your command slowly quietly
Slowly quietly people's bread is served out under your command slowly quietly.

With you rapidly silk darkens spoils with you rapidly
Water is tied in knots becomes turbid rapidly with you
With you rapidly is atrophied the history of labour
And with you slowly slowly the name of pain written extensively
comes out on the copper quartz bronze.
Translated by Suat Karantay


AS IF DEATH WERE A DAlLY ROUTINE

The road keeps winding. Eventually we stopped there. 
Through the open door we saw her, 
                             sitting there spinning wool
A wooden spindle in her hand.
A large ball of yarn had rolled over and stopped there. 
At the threshold we extended our heads:
                                      "How are you?" we said. As if
changing the pl"ce of a chair, 
"I' m simply dying!" she said,
                                      without raising her head.
As if death were a daily routine.


A wind kept beatlng the sea before her 
Which she sometimes raised her head to see.

Translated by Suat Karantay

 

İlhan Berk (1918- 2008) was born in Manisa. His first poems were published in journals Manisa Halkevi, Uyanış, Varlık, Çığır to name a few. He graduated from the French department of Gazi Education Institution and taught for ten years. His poems were mostly realist until 1953 and after this date his poetry became the forerunner of “Second New” movement. He is the most prominent member of this movement. History and sexuality are the main themes of his poetry. Berk has been a vital force in the modernization of Turkish poetry.