NECATI CUMALI
SUN FANATIC
I love the flowing water
I love the sparkling snow
And to see
A green leaf
A harlequin bug
Or seeds sprouting in the sun
Fills me with joy.
I exchange nothing
For a day
A lovely day
A day of sunlight.
That's why I don't love war
Why I don't love oppression
Why I don't love falsehood.
For neither injustice, I know,
Nor fear
Nor hunger
Live in the sun
Side by side with love.
Translated by Larry Clark
A FEAR AMONG FEARS
For three days I looked forward to Sunday
Till Sunday you had said
Believe me for three days
I longed for nothing but Sunday
Could neither sleep nor work well
Till Sunday I said and waited
Sunday morning
A fear among fears
Played havoc with my joy
What if you are not the one I love
What if you are notthe one I crave
Translated by Talat Sait Halman