SALAH BIRSEL
(1919 - 1999)
PAKISTAN
Crack crack cravk Güzin means wisky on the rocks
If you don't know it I know it
I like drinking
But Güzin also I like when she's warm
In June I gather all the brunettes
But whence comes this idea now out of the blue
When Güzin is there June
In the evening I greet Güzins
100 thousand Güzins and just as many lips
300 lips waiting to be kissed
I paint the flowers in the dark color of brunettes
I also paint Usküdar, if there is crowd enough
But whence comes this idea now out of the blue
When Güzin is there Usküdar
Crack crack crack I praise all the brunettes
I also praise Güzin if she's dark
Güzin means festivities
If you don't believe I do
I also like Pakistan
But whence comes this idea now out of the blue
When Güzin is there Pakistan
translated by Ender Gürol
INVITATION TO SLOTH
Hold it gentelmen relax for a while
Why are we in this maddening rat race
Straining our hearts for what
Istead let's develop double chins
And sit back and relax for a while
Whoever wants to stand or stalk let him
But let's squat right here on the ground
First let's open our mouths wide
Then stretch and relax our shoulders
And even roll over our eyes
Gentlemen let's yawn for a while
Who cares if we make a couple of bucks
Instead let's contemplate our navel
Turn a cold shoulder to work and thought
Or else no one would sympathize with us
While tehere's still time kids and grown-ups
Let's doze off let's live in sloth
Gentlemen let's snore for a while
translated by Talat Sait Halman
Salâh Birsel (1919-1999) Turkish essay writer. For many years, he was known for a satiric poetry based on the power of his thought and intelligence. From 1975 until his death, he presented an immense, two-part collection to Turkish essay writing. His essays were compiled into two series entitled Salâh Bey Tarihi/The History of Salâh Bey and 1001 Gece Denemeleri/Essays of 1001 Nights. His diaries should also be considered as essays. Salâh Birsel defined his aim as an essayist as to laugh and to make laugh. This includes satire, irony, and sarcasm. He constructed a language of his own. He had a special way of selecting a particular word or idiom, a special way of linking words together, so that we must consider all of his works as products of this language and of the way he plays with it. Underneath Birsels humour lie a well assimilated culture, a refined literary taste and a shy wisdom, as well as a sincerity that is synonymous with honesty.