Just Listening

I AM LISTENING TO ISTANBUL
—Orhan Veli Kanik (1914-1950)

I am listening to Istanbul with my eyes closed

First a breeze is blowing

And leaves swaying

Slowly on the trees;

Far, far away the bells of the

Water carriers ringing,

I am listening to Istanbul with my eyes closed.

I am listening to Istanbul with my eyes closed

A bird is passing by,

Birds are passing by, screaming, screaming,

Fish nets being withdrawn in fishing weirs,

A woman’s toe dabbling in water,

I am listening to Istanbul with my eyes closed.

I am listening,

The cool Grand Bazaar,

Mahmutpasha twittering

Full of pigeons,

Its vast courtyard,

Sounds of hammering from the docks,

In the summer breeze far, far away the odor of sweat,

I am listening.

I am listening to Istanbul with my eyes closed

The drunkenness of old times

In the wooden seaside villa with its deserted boat house

The roaring southwestern wind is trapped.

My thoughts are trapped

Listening to Istanbul with my eyes closed.

I am listening to Istanbul with my eyes closed

A coquette is passing by on the sidewalk,

Curses, sings, sings, passes;

Something is falling from your hand

To the ground,

It must be a rose.

I am listening to Istanbul with my eyes closed.

I am listening to Istanbul with my eyes closed

A bird is flying round your skirt;

I know if your forehead is hot or cold

Or your lips are wet or dry;

Or if a white moon is rising above the pistachio tree

My heart’s fluttering tells me . . .

I am listening to Istanbul with my eyes closed.

(trans. from the Turkish by Murat Nemet-Nejat)

_______________

—Medusa