Nabi (1642-1712)

His real name was Yusuf but he used the pen name Nabi in all of his works. His birthplace was the town of Urfa in southeastern Anatolia, and although he moved to Istanbul in his early twenties, he seems to have retained an affection for his hometown which he mentions in several poems. Little is known of Nabi's life in Urfa except that he came from a distinguished family. He had three brothers, and received an outstanding education. He was apparently greatly disappointed during his early days in the capital but later made the acquaintance of an important figure, Mustafa Paşa, second vizier, son-in-law of the sultan, and a member of the ruler's intimate conversational circle. The acquaintance soon grew into a patronage attachment and Nabi was appointed as the Paşa's Council Secretary. Thanks to Mustafa Paşa, Nabi made the acquaintance of the Sultan—Mehmed IV, known as Mehmed the Hunter in honor of his favorite amusement—joined the sultan on hunting parties, and accompanied him on the campaign to Poland. This was also the period in which Nabi completed his education in the cultural arts and began to achieve a reputation as a poet. Soon he made the acquaintance of the noted poets of the day including the old master, Na'ili, who regarded him highly. And it was, in part, his brilliant lyrics filled with popular sayings and critiques of the age and verses commemorating innumerable important occasions that won him the support of the court. WORKS: Divan, Hayriyye, Hayrabad, Tuhfetü'l-Haremeyn, and Surname. [This entry was written by Walter G. Andrews.]

ADVICE

Look you, most poetry of novice poets

Is lovelocks and hyacinths,

Roses and nightingales,

Wine and cup

 

They cannot leave

The orbit of the beloved

The body and cheek,

Lip and moist eye

 

Now they wander to spring,

Then to the meadow

And touch upon the cypress,

The rose and jasemin

 

They cannot walk                                                                                                                                                                 

The untrodden path                                                                                                                              

Nor turn on

The less-travelled road                                                                                                                                        

 

They can neither hunt

Poetry’s exalted ideas

Nor lasso the unseen world’s game

 

They make their way                                                                                                                                                          

On commonplaces                                                                                                                              

On well-known and experienced words

 

That double couplet bends

Under two donkey-loads of stuff

The cloth of its meaning

Cannot be fresh

 

So do not compose poetry

With empty words                                                                                              

Do not draw your net                                                                                                                                                         

Fishless from the sea

 

Translated by Kemal Silay

 

[From An Anthology of Turkish literature, Edited by Kemal Silay]