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Poem

Behçet Necatigil

Tempora Mutantur

I’ve seen years flying like birds
I’ve seen my end in a handful of earth
I loved, as all young do
The leaf was bound to the tree.

O friend! interpret my dream with favour
Don’t begrudge this to your Behçet!
Carried away by its flavour
O love! in both realms be blessed!

Farewell my ill-starred study nights
All the books have closed
Blow south-westerly blow
Let my soul still billow.

Along these paths to the wasteland
Majnun too went they say
I am not the way I used to be
Times changed I say.

TEMPORA MUTANTUR

TEMPORA MUTANTUR

Baktım seneler kuş gibi uçuyor,
Baktım sonum bir avuç toprak - -
Sevdim gençlik icabı

Ağaca bağlandı yaprak.

Ey dost, rüyamı hayra yor,
Çok görme Behçet'ine!
Kapıldım lezzetine,

Ey aşk, iki cihanda aziz ol!

Elveda tahsil gecelerinin kara bahtı,
Bütün kitaplar kapandı!

Lodos rüzgarı es esebildiğine,
Dinmesin gönlümdeki çalkantı!

Mecnun da beyabana
Bu yollardan gitmişti.
Ben artık eskisi gibi değilim,
Devran değişti.
Close

Tempora Mutantur

I’ve seen years flying like birds
I’ve seen my end in a handful of earth
I loved, as all young do
The leaf was bound to the tree.

O friend! interpret my dream with favour
Don’t begrudge this to your Behçet!
Carried away by its flavour
O love! in both realms be blessed!

Farewell my ill-starred study nights
All the books have closed
Blow south-westerly blow
Let my soul still billow.

Along these paths to the wasteland
Majnun too went they say
I am not the way I used to be
Times changed I say.

Tempora Mutantur

I’ve seen years flying like birds
I’ve seen my end in a handful of earth
I loved, as all young do
The leaf was bound to the tree.

O friend! interpret my dream with favour
Don’t begrudge this to your Behçet!
Carried away by its flavour
O love! in both realms be blessed!

Farewell my ill-starred study nights
All the books have closed
Blow south-westerly blow
Let my soul still billow.

Along these paths to the wasteland
Majnun too went they say
I am not the way I used to be
Times changed I say.
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