Nazim Hikmet is one my most favorite Turkish poets (the other is Orhan Veli).
I can write so much about him. But I don’t want to.
I want his poem to fill in all the space. So few lines with so much content…
Life is not a laughing matter
you must live with great seriousness
like a squirrel, for example-
I mean without looking for something beyond and above living,
I mean living must be your whole occupation.
Yaşamak şakaya gelmez
büyük bir ciddiyetle yaşayacaksin
bir sincap gibi mesela,
yani, yaşamanin disinda ve otesinde hicbir sey beklemeden,
yani butun işin gucun yasamak olacak.
Nazim Hikmet
I try to be that squirrel. Moments are my occupation. I hope, and try to fill them with beauty; and meaning. And if it works, I then try to hold on to those moments, even when they are passed. And smile. Seriously.
Reflections 