LEYLA IŞIK

LEYLA IŞIK

HOLD IT CHILD...

C'mon hold a pen

Hold it child!

Draw a sea

Paint it blue,

Let it cover everywhere

Separate the sky

By the horizon line.

Build a ship

White sailed

And loaded with hope

Add a little happiness to it

And seagulls will not go away by themselves...

C'mon hold a pen

Hold it child!

Draw a globe

Paint it green,

Separate into countries

By love line

Make a big heart

Don't think

How so many people

Can fit into it

Put a little love

A little respect

A little friendship

A little humanity

And plenty of justice in it...

February 28, 2014

by LEYLA IŞIK

TRANSLATED BY BAKI YIĞIT

OUT-OF-SPITE FREE

How free you are

Out-of-spite free

I could yet not break

The iron bars inside of me.

I'm enslaved by love,

Maybe by fear

I wrapped up myself in the lonelinesses.

How free you are

Out-of-spite free

In that endless blueness of the sky.

I could yet not unlock

The fetters inside of me.

Whenever I felt love

I wrapped up myself in the lonelinesses.

The sunlight abandoned me

In the dump well,

And it went away.

Being unable to leave lonelinesses,

I could not say stop to time,

The time that races against wind.

The hopes inside me rusted and faded.

Oh! You do not know how I miss

Becoming free like you,

Out-of-spite free,

By eluding fear

And leaving lonelinesses in the dump well...

ÇEVIREN: BAKI YIĞIT

CAMELIA...

Of which spring’s flowers had you made the crown on your head,

And which

Love tree’s branches had wrapped your child body

Now remember...

In our eyes this picture was black and white

On the day when it was taken but

Colorful were our smiles.

Those were still the first steps in life

In this abandoned house we safely lived in

We always used to play

Most beautiful roles in life…

From the indigo on the walls

I want back

Our childish cries

And our songs in every language it hides

Without further contamination.

Oh, Camelia...

Now we are the women of different countries!

Our hearts are expecting bright beauties.

When giving birth to a new one

Of our children of peace at each dawn,

No matter where in the world,

We speak only the language of love.

Even if we don’t know the meaning of the lyrics to it,

Come on

Let’s murmur together

The melody

Of our human side

Sincerely.

TRANSLATED BY BAKI YIĞIT

LEYLA IŞIK

LEYLA IŞIK. Educator, poet and writer Leyla ISIK was born in Sarikamis, Kars in 1957. She finished his primary and secondary education in Izmir. She graduated from the Teacher’ Training School in Usak, and the Institute of Education in Denizli, and received an undergraduate degree from the Anadolu University, Education Faculty in Eskişehir. In 2001 she retired as a primary school teacher. Leyla ISIK, who goes on her studies with KIBATEK (Cyprus, Balkans, Eurasia Turkish Literatures Corporation), which is the international platform of Turkish language, literature and translation, is holder of 2003 IKSDER (Izmir Culture and Art Association) 1st prize of Halicarnassos Fisherman Cevat Sakir (with her poem titled “My Izmir”). 2008 Honorary Certificate of Service to the Literature of Turkish World Award, “in the name of Mesheti Gencevi Social Union of Poets”. 2013 Platform of Izmir Lovers, Attila Ilhan Medal of Friendship and Loyalty. Leyla ISIK successfully represents her country abroad, and contributes to promotional activities for Turkish poetry on international platforms as a volunteer ambassador. She also made poetry programs for various local radio stations for a period of time. She has been interested in literature, painting and theatre since her childhood, and apart from poetry she writes short stories. She is a member of the Men of Letters Associations, and the culture, art and theatre coordinator of the Aegean Culture Platform Association, and the culture and art supervisor of Belgium Baris Manco Lovers Association. She was KIBATEK secretary general and vice president, and is a Vise Presedent International project coordinator of KIBATEK. Her writings and poems are published in verious magazines and anthologies, and translated into German, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Dutch and English. Her poetry and poetic narrative book entitled (To) Another Dream (2005) has been translated into Azerbaijani by Prof. Dr. Elcin ISGENDERZADE, and published by Vektor University in Azerbaijan. Leyla IŞIK, Representative of Kazakhstan World Writers Union, Representative of Pablo Neruda Cultural Association in Italy and Member of Honor. HER WORKS: (To) My Peace Frame, poetry, 1992 The Adventure Bird (This Is What Burns inside Me), poetry and poetic narrative, 1996 Like Reliving, short story, 2000 (To) Another Dream, poetry, poetic narrative, 2005 Dodaq Izlerin (Traces of Your Lips), poetry and poetic narrative, which has been translated into Azerbaijani, 2009 I’ve Stolen (Got) My Dreams (short story, 2011) n the Morning of the Drunken and Sleepless Night (poetry and poetic narrative, 2011). Her country of origin: TURKEY. Mother language: Turkish. Nationality: Turkish. Place of living: İZMİR