LEYLA IŞIK

 

Freedom To Everyone

To me, to you, to him

To us, to all of you, to them

To religious and non-religious ones

To talkative and mute ones

Freedom to every living creature in nature.

Before anyone would be usurping someone

Before imprisoning a bird singing on its twig into the cage

From East to the West

From South to the North

Without paying attention to any position

With all the women-men-children

Without siding with the mighty

Humans should lead a life they fully deserve.

Without waking up in the shade of the weapons

Without waking up in the darkness

One should commence a day with light and brightness

One should be able to speak

To be able to love

To love, and to make everything loved

Without keeping quiet, without being silenced…

This world belongs to all of us

These lands

Its air, water, bread

Welfare for everyone

Justice for everyone

Peace for everyone

Freedom to everyone

Humans should be deemed sacred

We all have the right to live humanely

And to keep everything alive.

Nature, and all living beings.

English Translation by Mesut Şenol

If You Love, Love Beautifully

If you love, love beautifully

May the snow on the peak of the mountain melt without flooding,

 may your heart have a waterfall.

May the traveler, shepherd, traveler, wolf and bird drink from its springs.

May it feed its tree, plant, a thousand kinds of grass with its veins.

If you love, love beautifully

Be the blue of the sky's clusters of white clouds.

May the birds fly freely.

May the day show its face with a smile.

May it not draw its black curtain.

May it not vomit its anger.

If you love, love beautifully

Be the Leyla of Mecnun, the Sirin of Ferhat,

Be the Aslı of Kerem

Even if it is far from sight

Love from the heart with love

If you love, love beautifully

Be the human of the creator.

With its wolf, with its bird. 

With its bugs and insects, 

its conscience, mercy, justice in the heart that grows every day.

If you love, love beautifully

Be both everything and nothing.

Without breaking, without hurting, without spilling,

without breaking, without scattering, without gathering. 

Without killing lives

With religion, language, belief. right, with equity

Those Days…

Those days were like arrows that had been released from the bow. We would open our eyes to run to the shore with the bright day.

We would feed the seagulls with the tiny hands of our huge hearts. We would watch them race in the blue sky at the cost of filling our bellies. They were so used to our existence; first they would draw circles, and dance round and round above our heads. Their cries of joy were their most beautiful voices. My dreams would take wing with them to the blue. %. bench? Shoulders hunched, head slightly bowed, she has put her cane to the side as if to say “I don’t need it anymore!”

What did the drunk, passed out at the bottom of the oleander, want to see, what excuse did he use to hold on to alcohol at the bottom of the bottles?

What I see is not too far from my heart’s window. I am writing letters to my loved ones again, even though I don’t know their addresses. I brew my tea, prepare my treat. I put on my best clothes, comb my hair carefully. I look in the mirror for the last time to see if I have forgotten anything. With the most beautiful smile on my face, sparkles of joy in my eyes, love in my heart, I see my face with friendly faces…

Oh my God! I just forgot to put on the red lipstick that suits my lips.

©Leyla Işık

 the hour you are not there

* footnote: Roses bloom on my curtains every morning, birds chirp on my balcony rails. My laundry, hanging on the clothesline, dries with the smiling day and the sea scent of the wind.

LEYLA IŞIK

LEYLA IŞIK: Educator-Poet-Writer-Artist-Painter. She graduated from Teacher Training College in Usak and Faculty of Education of Eskisehir Anadolu University. She had worked as a teacher for many years. She, Vice President of KIBATEK and International Organization and Project Coordinator, organized the 31st,34 th, 39th, 40 th, 42 nd, 44 the KIBATEK International Litrary Festivals and attended India World Poetry Festival organized by Pentasy B in Hydarabadand “Golden Word” International Literary Festival in Uzbekistan. Her Awards:2003 - İksder-İzmir Culture and Art Association "Halikarnas Fisher CevatŞakir" First Prize Poetry Award, 2008 – Şaire Mehseti Gencevi (MŞM) Honorary Diploma on behalf of Azerbaijani Baku Poet Mesheti Genjevi for Serving Turkish World Literature. 2013 – Atilla İlhan Friendship and Fidelity Medallion from Platform of Love Izmir 2015 - World Young Writers Association (DGTYB) Literary Award, 2016 - Rumen Dialect, Poetry, Art, Literature Platform International Literature, Friendship and Peace Prize. 2017-Pablo Neruda Cultural Association” Neruda Award 2017”award- Italy Pablo Neruda Cultural Association” Representative for Turkey of Pablo- Neruda-Italy Honorary Member of Italian Cultural Association Pablo Neruda Chief Representative of the World Notation Writers ‘union in Turkey-Kazakhstan  Hyderabad India World Poetry Festival Pentasi B 2017 "Inspirational poetry" award Fellowship Certificate-Fellow of the Regal world of Scribes (FRWS) India World Poetry Festival “Writers Corner - Warangal Medal”  India World Poetry Festival Writers Corner Warangal “The Enchanting Muse Award" World Nations Writers “Union Kazakhstan “Pride of the Globe-2017, WNWU” in Response to exceptional commitment and devotion to literature 2018-OPA-Poetry Archive’s Assignment of Publication  OPA Our Poetry Archive featured poet of the month March. World Award in Literature - 2018, WNWU 2019-Motivational strips “AMBASSADOR DE LITERATURE 2020-Peruvian Union "Literary Excellent Award" Hispanom Dial De Escritores, Motivation           Strips, World Nations Writers Union Chile Diploma and Certificate of Honor Romania International Academy of Arts and Letters Certificate Morocco "International Creativity and Humanity Certificate" India / Daman "World Illustrated Poetry Forum" Grand Woman Poet Award for great success in high virtue assessment. Her books: HUZUR ÇERÇEVEM (E) poetry, SERÜVEN KUŞU İÇİMİN ÖYKÜSÜ poetry – poetic expression, YENİDEN YAŞAMAK GİBİ short story ,BİR BAŞKA DÜŞ (E) poetry - poetic expression, DODAQ İZLERİN poetry -translated and published at Vektör University, DÜŞLERİMİ (Ç) ALDIM ,UYKUSUZ ESRİK GECENİN SABAHINDA ,ULUSLARARASI EDEBİYAT ŞÖLENİ ŞİİR ANTOLOJİSİ Besides  KIBATEK. Aegean Cultural Platform Theatre Coordinator, Literature Association Member , Member of International Activist Artists Association, She is also Turkey Representative and Honorary Member of Italy Pablo Neruda Cultural Association, Member and Turkey representative of World Nation Writers Association. Her poems are published in international anthologies; Galaksi  Poetike  Atanis, Grami Romanesc, Global Voices of 21st Century female Poets QUEEN, Poetry in the Park Collection No 4,Antologia Poetica KIBATEK festival 39 (Italy), www.mearteka.net, Antologia Amaravati Poetic Prism 2018,2019 Her articles and poems have been translated into German, Albanian, Arabic, Romanian, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Dutch, Italian, English and Azeri Turkish, Spanish, Macedonian, Urdu, Chinese by published in anthologies in various journals both in Turkey and abroad. She is painter, received theatre training, writes heather plays besides poetry, short stories and essays. She is the poet of passion, longing, love and struggle.