KARANFİL STREET
Ahmed Arif studied philosophy at Ankara University. As a kurd, Arif was imprisoned on political charges in 1950 and remained in jail until 1952. His poetry, which were published in a variety of literary publications, were well-read because of their unique lyrical and imagery influenced by Kurdistan and Anatolian folk cultures. He only released one collection of poetry, Hasretinden Prangalar Eskittim (Fetters Worn Out by Longing/1968), which has had a record number of printings.
All horizons fall in, make winter camp
Four directions, sixteen winds
And seven climates, five continents
All under snow.
We are occupied with the science of reuniting, all divisions
Train-tracks, pavement, gravel, macadam
My rugged path, my trail,
The Taurus, the Anti-Taurus and the rebellious Euphrates
Tobacco, cotton, wheat plains, rice paddies
My homeland, from end to end
All under snow.
[…]
Its walls, of the rigid stone of patience
They are all under snow, the slums,
My longing is playful and coy, Ankara.
Let the wolf go on loving this hazy atmosphere,
Down these paved ways let December march,
I love her not, she is the ominous month.
Some other though unknown to me
Left until who-knows-which spring, love’s reunion
My heart, this tyrannous desire,
All under snow.
[…]
