I AM LISTENING TO ISTANBUL


I am listening to Istanbul with my eyes closed
First a breeze is blowing
And leaves swaying
Slowly on the trees;
Far, far away the bells of the
Water carriers ringing,
I am listening to Istanbul with my eyes closed.

I am listening to Istanbul with my eyes closed
A bird is passing by,
Birds are passing by, screaming, screaming,
Fish nets being withdrawn in fishing weirs,
A woman's toe dabbling in water,
I am listening to Istanbul with my eyes closed.

I am listening,
The cool Grand Bazaar,
Mahmutpasha twittering
Full of pigeons,
Its wast courtyard,
Sounds of hammering from the docks,
In the summer breeze far, far away the odor of sweat,
I am listening.

I am listening to Istanbul with my eyes closed
The drunkenness of old times
In the wooden seaside villa with its deserted boat house
The roaring southwestern wind is trapped,
My thoughts are trapped
Listening to Istanbul with my eyes closed.

I am listening to Istanbul with my eyes closed
A coquette is passing by on the sidewalk,
Curses, sings, sings, passes;
Something is falling from your hand
To the ground,
It must be a rose.
I am listening to Istanbul with my eyes closed.

I am listening to Istanbul with my eyes closed
A bird is flying round your skirt;
I know if your forehead is hot or cold
Or your lips are wet and dry;
Or if a white moon is rising above the pistachio tree
My heart's fluttering tells me...
I am listening to Istanbul with my eyes closed.




Orhan Veli
Translated by Murat Nemet-Nejat, 1989

ISTANBUL'U DINLIYORUM


Istanbul'u dinliyorum, gozlerim kapali
Once hafiften bir ruzgar esiyor;
Yavas yavas sallaniyor
Yapraklar, agaclarda;
Uzaklarda, cok uzaklarda,
Sucularin hic durmayan cingiraklari
Istanbul'u dinliyorum, gozlerim kapali.

Istanbul'u dinliyorum, gozlerim kapali;
Kuslar geciyor, derken;
Yukseklerden, suru suru, ciglik ciglik.
Aglar cekiliyor dalyanlarda;
Bir kadinin suya degiyor ayaklari;
Istanbul'u dinliyorum, gozlerim kapali.

Istanbul'u dinliyorum, gozlerim kapali;
Serin serin Kapalicarsi
Civil civil Mahmutpasa
Guvercin dolu avlular
Cekic sesleri geliyor doklardan
Guzelim bahar ruzgarinda ter kokulari;
Istanbul'u dinliyorum, gozlerim kapali.

Istanbul'u dinliyorum, gozlerim kapali;
Basimda eski alemlerin sarhoslugu
Los kayikhaneleriyle bir yali;
Dinmis lodoslarin ugultusu icinde
Istanbul'u dinliyorum, gozlerim kapali.

Istanbul'u dinliyorum, gozlerim kapali;
Bir yosma geciyor kaldirimdan;
Kufurler, sarkilar, turkuler, laf atmalar.
Birsey dusuyor elinden yere;
Bir gul olmali;
Istanbul'u dinliyorum, gozlerim kapali.

Istanbul'u dinliyorum, gozlerim kapali;
Bir kus cirpiniyor eteklerinde;
Alnin sicak mi, degil mi, biliyorum;
Dudaklarin islak mi, degil mi, biliyorum;
Beyaz bir ay doguyor fistiklarin arkasindan
Kalbinin vurusundan anliyorum;
Istanbul'u dinliyorum.

Orhan Veli KANIK

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing this!

From Galata Tower:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsjsLXGAnjU&mode=related&search=istanbul%20prayer



Namaz:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YPPEcKywkk&mode=related&search=istanbul%20blue%20mosque%20cami%20sultan%20ahmet%20ezan%20sunset%20gunes%20bati%20martilar%20turkiye%20turkije%20turkey%20moskee%20culture%20cultuur


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IU1JBtYlN-A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8C1UXSHwpdA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pu6FRqbFWiA&mode=related&search=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erdU3uzEi6k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDwLOD7WVu8&mode=related&search=cami

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoxcxfMGris

in Spanish:
Escucho Estambul

Escucho Estambul con los ojos cerrados
Al principio hay una suave brisa
Y las hojas de los árboles
Se mueven suavemente;
Por allí­, lejos
Las campanas de los aguadores suenan sin parar;
Escucho Estambul con los ojos cerrados.

Escucho Estambul con los ojos cerrados;
Después, de repente, los pájaros vuelan,
Bandadas de pájaros ascienden con griterí­o,
Mientras las redes arrastran los fondos de pescado
Y los pies de una mujer chapotean en el agua.
Escucho Estambul con los ojos cerrados.

Escucho Estambul con los ojos cerrados.
El Gran Bazar está sereno y frí­o,
Un alboroto en el centro del Mercado,
Los patios de las mezquitas se llenan de pichones.
Mientras los martillos repiquetean en los muelles
Vientos de primavera traen olores de sudor;
Escucho Estambul con los ojos cerrados.

Escucho Estambul con los ojos cerrados;
Todaví­a mareado del jolgorio del pasado,
Una mansión junto al mar con descoloridos
embarcaderos está casi dormida.
Entre el susurro de vientos del sur, relajado,
Escucho Estambul con los ojos cerrados.

Escucho Estambul con los ojos cerrados
Una chica preciosa camina por la acera:
Palabras de cuatro letras, silbidos y canciones, rudos comentarios;
Algo cae de su mano
Es una rosa, supongo
Escucho Estambul con los ojos cerrados.

Escucho Estambul con los ojos cerrados.
Un pájaro aletea en tu falda;
En tu frente, ¿hay sudor? ¿O no? Yo lo sé
¿Están tus labios húmedos? ¿O no? Yo lo sé
Una luna de plata se alza tras los pinos
Puedo sentirlo todo en los latidos de tu corazón
Escucho Estambul con los ojos cerrados.

Translation into Spanish by Angeles Martinez

Gracias Roswitha ¡ me encantó !
It sounds great in spanish and didnt lose its "sense" and meaning due to the translation process which shows that it is, indeed, a wonderful translation!
You know, some translations can "Spoil" such beautiful and well-written works!
Okuduktan sonra...Istanbul'da olmak Istiyorum!!! dunyanin en guzel sehri Keske orada olsaydim!!!!! bir gün...
Dilara.

Muchas gracias Roswitha.me encanta tambien.Palabras en espanol son maravillosas

Thank you my dear friend Roswitha for sharing this with all of us, especially for us, the ones who are native Spanish speakers...it sounds beautiful...

gracias amiga!!