ERCUMENT BEHZAT LAV
(1903-1984)THE BOSPHORUS BELLE
March 31, 1908
The expeditionary army
Has reached the suburbs
Bullets whistle
As they comb the latticed windows
The reserves pile arms
As thousands of country bumpkins
Howl,'We want the Sheriat!'
We celebrated the Revolution
In the desert
I on my pony
Behind my father's horse
Bingazi was a ribbon of desert lilies
With its swarthy Berbers
Its gnarled date-trees
Its kohl-dyed eyes
One morning what do we see
Under our noses
Italian destroyers point their guns
Welcome
Tripolitanian War!
Heads are flying in the Balkans
It's a rout, rotting buffaloes for food
Macedonia is a barrel of gunpowder
Rumelia a heart-rending tale
The Goeben and Breslau take shelter with us
Odessa is bombarded
What's that song? 'Inside Gallipoli
They have shot me dead.1940
Translated by Nermin Menemencioglu