Nazim Hikmet is one my most favorite Turkish poets (the other is Orhan Veli).
I can write so much about him. But I don't want to.
I want his poem to fill in all the space. So few lines with so much content...
I can write so much about him. But I don't want to.
I want his poem to fill in all the space. So few lines with so much content...
LIVING IS NO LAUGHING MATTER
Living is no laughing matter:
you must live with great seriousness
like a squirrel, for example-
I mean without looking for something beyond and above living,
I mean living must be your whole occupation.
In Turkish:
Living is no laughing matter:
you must live with great seriousness
like a squirrel, for example-
I mean without looking for something beyond and above living,
I mean living must be your whole occupation.
In Turkish:
Yasamak sakaya gelmez,
buyuk bir ciddiyetle yasayacaksin
bir sincap gibi mesela,
yani, yasamanin disinda ve otesinde hicbir sey beklemeden,
yani butun isin gucun yasamak olacak.
Nazim Hikmet
I try to be that squirrel.
Moments are my occupation.
I hope, and try to fill them with beauty; and meaning.
And if it works, I then try to hold on to those moments, even when they are passed.
And smile.
Seriously.
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