Cahit Kulebi is one of the greatest poets of my country, Turkey. He is my favourite poet.
The following poem is, in my opinion, his masterpiece. Below you may find the original and a good translation of this fabulous poem.
HIKÂYE
Senin dudaklarin pembe
Ellerin beyaz,
Al tut ellerimi bebek
Tut biraz!
Benim dogdugum köylerde
Ceviz agaçlari yoktu,
Ben bu yüzden serinlige hasretim
Oksa biraz.
Benim dogdugum köylerde
Bugday tarlalari yoktu
Dagit saçlarini bebek
Savur biraz!
Benim dogdugum köyleri
Aksamlari eskiyalar basardi,
Ben bu yüzden yalnizligi hiç sevmem
Konus biraz!
Benim dogdugum köylerde
Insanlar gülmesini bilmezdi,
Ben bu yüzden böyle naçar kalmisim
Gül biraz!
Benim dogdugum köylerde
Kuzey rüzgarlari eserdi,
Hep bu yüzden dudaklarim çatlaktir
Öp biraz!
Sen Türkiye gibi aydinlik ve güzelsin!
Benim dogdugum köylerde güzeldi
Sende anlat dogdugun yerleri,
Anlat biraz!
Cahit Külebi
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SONG
Your lips are red
Your hands are white
Take my hands, child,
Hold them a while.
In the village where I was born
There were no walnut trees
That's why I yearn for coolness
Fondle me a while.
In the village where I was born
There were no cornfields
So scatter your hair child
Flaunt it a while.
In the village where I was born
Bandits struck by night
That's why I hate to be alone
Speak with me a while
In the village where I was born
Men did not know how to laugh
That's why I'm still so unhappy
Make me laugh a while
In the village where I was born
The north winds blew
That's why my lips are cracked
Kiss them a while
You are light and beauty, like my country
The village where I was born was beautiful too
Now tell me of the place where you were born
Tell me a while.
Cahit Kulebi
Translated by Bernard Lewis (1982)
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