He was born in Istanbul (1979) and lives in there. He works in a logictics company. His publications include poems, stories and essays. His works were published in Karabatak, Karagöz and Ücra such are national journals in Turkey. His first poem book named “İlk Değilim Üstelik” was published in 2014 and second poem book named “Kuş Adımı” was published in 2016.
WINTER FEAR
snowing with your eyes
in this century
a huge winter is coming down
with your hands
it is obvious that it will not be over just with snow but
freezing hail in jar
with the sound of snow
will grow up in spring
I told a mistake
Not by mistake
What I told was not a mistake
I told a mistake
done and
repeated everyday
Because they left the garden
with a mistake
that took us to winter
then: penitence
it is possible to survive from winter through mercy
new yards were constructed under the shadow of a mercy
it is possible to enter into the gardens
that we wait for with a mercy
it should be done in winter
maybe it is better
to join the ones
who left the garden first with a mercy
Kids expecting fun are behind the windows
frozen pictures of the future days
it was a winter with full of frightening nights
getting darker and darker
they were looking at the moon
far away in their dreams
kids are behind
the windows with their eyes on the ice.
middle section: beautification
kept in winter
snow bestowed from the sky
may kill and recreate
as it rains,
water will leak in existence
beneficence
leaving a deep breath
in vessels.
Hung steam,
winter will come in this garden too
birds should shelter or migrate
but gardens are far away
deep breath
unless he kills the seed in this garden
and buries it in solid sand
and makes it green again
we can’t know to
which home this derelict old home
or a mansion opens
if he doesn’t make the seed green again
wouldn’t we wither away
more: fear
prosperous freshness of penalties
from winter is postponed to winter
even though it was grown up in summer
thanks god we saw sorrow in winter
if we spend the winter in this way
what a pity the summer ends
the summer will be over and again winter
we will die and be born
we will die and be born
and again winter
snow.
Şafak ÇELİK
Translated by Mehmet ASMALI and Ufuk CELIK
POINT
point
line is formed with the unite of infinite number of points. It creates a link. A point does not have a dimension but a line can be measured. A line limits us but can a point surpassed? radius
change your direction switchman
a butterfly in a crematorium
you may accept me with my young face
how many times he switched
a wing for each day
the pattern left behind by the butterfly
we know an old getting cold
a starting note
a fire flame
obvious that man does not judge himself
he is not enough for even his own mercy
a butterfly coffin on my shoulder
how heavy
an action of a day
a word
how heavy
naked human body
indistinguishable from another
the morning put the last star to sleep
point
a spot that may appear anywhere suddenly. It does not have to be right. Therefore, is it possible to mention about its radius? We cannot prove that it is circle. If so, does not it have to have a centre?
the point is getting bigger
a hole on my cloth
while kids’ fingers enlarge it
the world that I got used to is swallowing my flesh
the opened door is a new garden
the dark shade sinking at night is as heavy as a dark shade
birds do not lose
their direction
even at a silent night
the line knows
that every point is on its right place
and they do not disappear.
glancing at the crowds
glancing but forgetting the point
point
the radius of the point. it is getting bigger with the one from its own. each drop enlarges itself.
a man talks of himself most and
compares himself with a leaf
how green it is. full of life.
if it fall on the ground it is ready to
be reborn
comparing with snow for instance
I am white. he is not going to survive
without (indurable)
comparing with a bird
I am crazy. a one-way step by step.
getting bigger and bigger
toward the range by gathering stones
for what construction is
this preparation for
maybe comparison. an excuse
to be right. a grip to forgiveness.
maybe…
unless a tired snow
only the sound of snow falling
Şafak ÇELİK
Translated by Mehmet ASMALI and Ufuk CELIK
ADAM IN THE SHOWCASE
a prophet is lying on the sky in a glass well
his flesh that he cannot rein is growing.
you may eat it. a long breath
from adit to the sky,
each well into a deeper one. I fell
I am in it is meaningless to search for
and handle in the middle of a deep chromatic spectrum
not so white making my eyes blind
I fell and I am not the first one
No one looks for but they know where I am
The cloud is waiting for a wind in charge to spread it out
Shrill with his hand on his mouth with bated breath
The garden door will be opened
I am in deep patience in my hand
What a sweet dream involving bird
settled on a plastic branch
Birds are coming in the showcase. A bird berating each other.
Waiting with bated breath,
let it go. Warm water in my palm
I am not Jesus with a nail on my foot
No I have not been invited from the sky
I cannot leave this well, nailed here
my daughter is holding my trouser cuff
I am carrying my cross with an enthusiasm
climbing up on my shoulder her fingers that are mixing my hair.
I cannot ameliorate anyone dead people are far away from me
it is an ironic end that I suddenly die
Şafak ÇELİK
Translated by Mehmet ASMALI and Ufuk CELIK
