He completed his education at the Faculty of Political Science. He
worked at the Department of Revenue Services as a Controller
(1959-1965), after which he went to work at a Newspaper until 1971,
then returned to the Department of Revenue from 1971 to 1974. He
published his work at his own publishing house, Diriliş, and founded
the journal by the same name. Although his poems were published in
the same journals together with the İkinci Yeni poets, his
poetry reveals its own distinct characteristics. One can observe the
influence of European poetry in his work, yet he utilized classical
poetry interpreted in his own personal style. Politically speaking,
he is one of the pioneers of Islamist discourse in Turkish
literature. POETRY: Körfez (1959), Şahdamar (1962),
Hızırla Kırk Saat (1967), Sesler (1968), Taha'nın
Kitabı (1968), Gül Muştusu (1969), Şiirler I
(1974, second edition of Hızırla Kırk Saat), Şiirler II
(1974, second edition of Taha'nın Kitabı), Şiirler III
(1974, Körfez, Şahdamar and Sesler), Şiirler IV
(1974), Şiirler V (1977), Şiirler VI (1980). ESSAYS:
Dirilişin Çevresinde (1967), İslam (1967), Kıyamet
Asırı (1968), Mağara ve IşıkAllah'a İnanma ve
İnsanlık (1970), Ölümden Sonra Kalkış (1970), Ruhun
Dirilişi (1974), Çağ ve Islam I (1974), Diriliş
Neslinin Amentüsü (1976), Yitik Cennet (1976), Çağ ve
İslam II (1977), İnsanlığın Dirilişi (1977), Gündönümü
(1977), Çağ ve İslam III (1980), Makamda (1980),
Diriliş Muştusu (1980). OTHER WORKS: Üç Kaside (1967,
translation), İslamın Şiir Anıtlarından (1976, revised
version of Üç Kaside), İslam Toplumunun Sturkturu
(1967, critical essay).
FROM THE LAND OF EXILE TO THE CAPITAL OF CAPITALS
First I was banished from your heart
And in a way all my exiles continue that banishment
Beyond all ceremonies, feasts, services, holy days
I came to you, came to you on my knees
I came to beg forgiveness, though I don't deserve forgiving
Don't prolong my worldly banishment
Wheedle the sun away from springtime
Drag it out of this most incurable of loves
That which is blown into my heart
Like a cloud of dust
Oh don't prolong my worldly banishment
I am so very tired you can tell it
From my feet and not from my shoes
The lamps are crooked
Mirrors scorpion angels
Time, a last vision of the stricken horse
A home is no inheritance but inheritance's phantasm
Oh what my heart gives birth to
What it raises up and suckles
Made of bird feathers
And bird's milk
At night and in daytimes
Erected like a monument to humanity
Beloved
Most beloved
Oh, beloved
Don't prolong my worldly banishment
It was you I talked about in all the poems
If I said "Suna" if I said "Leyla" it was you
Images of Salome and Sheba's Queen I used to hide that it
was you
My concealments were all in vain, so plainly, obviously it
is you
Birds take wing in imitation of your heart
Spring gathers its blossoms from your hands
From your eyes the sea becomes aware of endlessness
Oh tenderest and most profound of hearts
Beloved
Most beloved
Oh, beloved
Don't prolong my worldly banishment
Years passed, the plow left undying traces on the earth
I reached to the stars and asked of you in midnights
In penthouses, in basements
Matchless lamp, your shadow illuminates my night
In Kanlıca, in Emirgân
In the leaden dawn of Kandilli
I talked and talked with you in the spring and summer of a
life
And now, in its suddenly appearing autumn
I came to you, came to you on my knees
I came to beg forgiveness though I don't deserve forgiving
Oh contemporary Jerusalem (Mary)
Oh Egypt bearing her secret in her breast (Zuleyha)
Oh heart of mercy that grants softness to silk
Beloved
Most beloved
Oh, beloved
Don't prolong my worldly banishment
I saw the mountains tumble down in a Venus glass
Was sold as a slave in the bazaar of bazaars
On Constantine's wall I saw the sun grow pale
Burned with visions of you in the neighborhood of dreams
It's your shadow ever reflected in the fountain of eternal
life
Now when I am wrapped in thoughts of death
Terrified by unpaid accounts
I came to you, came to you on my knees
I came to beg forgiveness though I don't deserve forgiving
Beloved
Most beloved
Oh, beloved
Don't prolong my worldly banishment
What news is there from the birds of your homeland
There is a springtime that rises even from the grave
What can love's executioner do so long as there's a beloved
Beyond non-being and being there's a Being
The fault is not all mine burning breaking me there's a
curse
There are lines to be sung inspired by this song
Don't you ever say fate for beyond fate there's a fate
Whatever they might do there's a providence coming from the
empty sky
So what if the sun sinks, there's an architect restoring the
night
If I am burnt there's a fortress built of my ashes
There is a victory growing defeat by defeat
In you there's the key to reaching the secret of all secrets
In your breast there is a vein that summons your exiles to
return
I won't give up hope in you, there's a tree called mercy in
your heart
Beloved
Most beloved
Oh, beloved
Translated by Walter G. Andrews
[From An Anthology of Turkish Literature, Edited by
Kemal Silay]
