BARBAROS İRDELMEN

 

Spring Rush

 

The flower in the pot,

The tree in the garden,

The vine on the wall,

They all need care.

They will Bloom for us.

 

That tree needs grafting,

This tree needs pruning,

That tree needs its top trimmed,

The branches of this one need pruning.

Seeds with violas,

Cuttings will meet the soil.

 

Now is the time for hoeing,

The soil will be cultivated,

Whatever will be planted for summer,

The places will be fertilized and prepared.

 

Grapevine, hazelnut,

Jasmine, wisteria,

They've started budding,

Oh no, the quince is blooming,

Summer is coming.

 

The world has warmed up,

The seasons have mixed.

There's a lot to be done,

Don't be lazy,

Quickly, faster,

So the gardens won't be mad at us...

 

Bahar Telaşı

 

Saksıdaki çiçek

Bahçedeki ağaç

Duvardaki sarmaşık

Hepsi bakım istiyor

Çiçek açacaklar

Bizim için

 

O ağaca göz aşısı

Bu ağaca kalem aşısı gerek

Şu ağaçta tepe alınacak

Bunun dalları budanacak

Mevsiminde tohumlar viyollerle

Çeliklerle fideler toprakla buluşacak

 

Toprak çapalanacak

Ne dikilecekse yaz için

Yerleri gübrelenip hazırlanacak

 

Asma fındık

Arap yasemini mor salkım

Tomurcuklandılar

 

Eyvah, ayvada çiçek

Yaz gelecek

Isındı dünya

Karıştı mevsimler

Yapılacak çok iş var     

Üşenmeyelim

Çabuk, daha çabuk

Bahçeler küsmeden bize...

 

The Association For The Retired

 

My friend from the elementary school

A retiree from that institution

He said, come on

If you are available

I am going to the association

Let’s get there together

 

I am available

We went together

It’s a historical building

We toured the social facility

Looks perfect

 

Its library

Its coffeehouse

Its game Halls

Its garden

 

We visit the restaurant

In one section

The retired people are sitting

The Chef explains something

 

Salads

Appetizers, starters

hors d'oeuvres

Main dishes

Fruits and desserts

Alcoholic drinks included

Prices are affordable

Our kitchen is excellent

 

I said, Chef

There is a smell in the salon

The smell of food

Doesn’t it bother you?

 

In truth, he said

The ventilation is out of order

We could not have it repaired

They asked much Money for it

 

We open the windows in summers

It is not going to be problem

For one thing though, he said

It is not only the smell of the food

Most of our clients are retired

Very gassy bodies...

 

English Translation By Mesut ŞENOL

 

Emekliler derneği

 

İlkokuldan arkadaşım

O kurumun emeklisi

Hadi gel dedi

Müsaitsen

Ben derneğe gidiyorum

Gidelim beraber

 

Müsaittim

Gittik beraber

Yer tarihi bir yapı

Gezdik sosyal tesisi

On numara mükemmel

 

Kütüphanesi

Kafesi

Oyun salonları

Bahçesi

 

Restoranı geziyoruz

Bir bölümünde

Oturuyor emekliler

Şef anlatıyor

 

Salatalar

Aperatifler mezeler

Ara sıcaklar

Ana yemekler

Meyve ve tatlılar

İçki dahil

Uygundur fiyatlar

Mutfağımız mükemmel

 

Şef dedim

Salonda bir koku var

Yemek kokusu

Rahatsız etmiyor mu sizi?

 

Valla dedi

Havalandırma arızalı

Yaptıramadık

Çak para istediler

 

Yazın açıyoruz camları

Sorun olmuyor

Yalnız dedi koku

Sırf yemek kokusu değil

 

Müşterilerimizin çoğu emekli

Çok gazlı bünyeleri…

 

If It's Dark

 

We parted suddenly, my love

My mind is on you

 

Are you alone?

Are you unhappy?

Do you miss me?

 

What do you want from the world beyond?

Just whisper

 

If it's warm,

Wind, coolness, rain

If you're cold, the sun

If the nights are dark,

A bright moonlight

 

Whatever you want

 

From the other world

I can send it right away

 

English Translation By Huri ÖZDOĞAN

 

Karanlıksa

 

Ani ayrıldık sevdiğim

Aklım sende

 

Yalnız mısın?

Mutsuz musun?

Özlüyor musun?

 

Ne istersin benden

 

Sıcaksa

Rüzgar serinlik yağmur

Üşüyorsan güneş

Karanlıksa gecelerin

Aydınlık bir mehtap

 

Ne istersen

Fısılda yeter

Öte dünyadan

Hemen gönderebilirim sana…

 

BARBAROS İRDELMEN

 

Dr. Barbaros İrdelmen: Born in 1952, he has been living in Istanbul for 48 years, active in his profession. His selected poems have been translated into English, Greek and Spanish in national and international anthologies, poetry festivals and selection books. He is a member of the Poetry Columnist of the Literature Magazine, the Editorial Board of the Kirpi Literature and Think Journal, the Research and Publication Board of the Papirus Journal, and the Writers' Union of Turkey. Along with the author's seven published poetry books, sixteen e-Book Poetry books are available on Google books.