MEHMET TANER
(b. 1946)

7 February 1975

Old empty walls, old haircloth bed,
Old pen, old water;
laboured breathing. Shallow shadow -

lfonly I could remember! that life full ofdreams: the voice breaks,
a gradual sparkling slides over the honey-coloured water.

You are in the gardens. The gardens of Eden. A bright preen wind
washes the face hidden in the leaves with little raindrops.

I am the traveller of paths, the friend of berries.
Hidden in my inner soul, like the mouth ofa gully.
A mouth of fire, the lights I remember - your white back. To hold
on to a branch in the depth. The hopeless, green branch:
aching with passion. To kiss your belly.

This poem is to praise you and remember your name
'Old, beautiful, good, everything is with you' -
a candle burns by my bed for your eyes:
I pursued you and lost you in that dazzling fantasy,
Your eyes without compare, Present here, lighting my road.

Translated by Richard McKane