Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Enis Batur

ASH WRITING

I have become kindling and burnt for you, my queen,
by the linden, by the chesnut, by the magnolia

I burnt: of smoke, smell and fire
if only you knew the taste, my tongue a flame.

I have become coal for you, so burnt am I
my hands are scorched, my face, a deep ruin,

neither water, nor earth could put out this fire
I have become coal yet again I burnt

I have become paper for you from the Armenian lands,
Words and letters of fire walk on my flesh

A phoenix arises from my ashes, I come shimmering
the comma in your eye a sparkle for my song.

Kül Yazısı

Kül Yazısı

Sizin için çıra oldum yandım sevgili
ıhlamurun atkestanesinin manolyanın

yanında yandım: Duman, koku, ateşin
tadını bir bilseydiniz, dilim yalım.

Sizin için kömür oldum öylesine yandım,
ellerim kavrulmuş, yüzüm derin harabe,

ne su söndürür ne toprak bu yangın
iyice kömür oldum ki bir daha yandım.

Sizin için kâğıt oldum Ermeni ilinden,
tenimde yürür ateş harfleri cümleleri

külümden anka çıkar gelirim yanardöner
şiirim için kıvılcım gözünüzdeki virgül.
Close

ASH WRITING

I have become kindling and burnt for you, my queen,
by the linden, by the chesnut, by the magnolia

I burnt: of smoke, smell and fire
if only you knew the taste, my tongue a flame.

I have become coal for you, so burnt am I
my hands are scorched, my face, a deep ruin,

neither water, nor earth could put out this fire
I have become coal yet again I burnt

I have become paper for you from the Armenian lands,
Words and letters of fire walk on my flesh

A phoenix arises from my ashes, I come shimmering
the comma in your eye a sparkle for my song.

ASH WRITING

I have become kindling and burnt for you, my queen,
by the linden, by the chesnut, by the magnolia

I burnt: of smoke, smell and fire
if only you knew the taste, my tongue a flame.

I have become coal for you, so burnt am I
my hands are scorched, my face, a deep ruin,

neither water, nor earth could put out this fire
I have become coal yet again I burnt

I have become paper for you from the Armenian lands,
Words and letters of fire walk on my flesh

A phoenix arises from my ashes, I come shimmering
the comma in your eye a sparkle for my song.
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Prins Bernhard cultuurfonds
Lira fonds
Versopolis
J.E. Jurriaanse
Gefinancierd door de Europese Unie
Elise Mathilde Fonds
Stichting Verzameling van Wijngaarden-Boot
Veerhuis
VDM
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