by Sait Faik Abasiyanik

Sait Faik is a nationally well-known Turkish writer and poet, who is primarily praised for his beautiful short stories. He has written only a few poems, among which the one below. Just like the other poems he wrote, it is very simple and it touches my heart.

My grandma proudly used to explain: ‘Sait Faik, he was our neighbor…he lived just in this next door house together with his parents. He was young back then. Young. Full of life…’. He died of cirrhosis. He wasn’t yet fifty.

I am running towards you in a boat
to not to die, not to go insane...
to live; to live far away from all the expectations
to live...
It is not warm the memory of her lips; no, it is not;
Not the scent of her hair
None of that.
In days like these, when the world is trembling with tempests
I cannot do without her.
Her hand has to be in mine,
I have to look at her eyes,
Have to hear her voice.
We have to eat together
And sometimes laugh.
I do not, I cannot do without her.
You my ugly girl,
You my bread, my poison;
My flavor, my sleep.
I cannot do without you!