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Istanbul was the center of the Ottoman empire hence also a center for myriad of poets who created a unique genre here -a kind of poetry following traditional Persian techniques enriched with Arabic and Turkish elements (Divan Edebiyati). The palace used poets and men of letters in general to sing praises of the reigning sultans and pashas, this form of poetry was called mersiye. Furthermore, the palace wenth through several episodes of excessive wealth and enjoyment (Tulip Age) and people of wealth dedicated themselves to more pleasing aspects of life. At the center of all this was Istanbul, a city which they say was hundred times more beautiful and magical than it is now. In the courts, stately houses and meeting places of this city people wrote countless poems declaring their love for Istanbul. For a long period of time, Istanbul´s literary scene was as strong as the immense might of the big empire that it belonged to. Therefore poets identified themselves as the people of Istanbul, the city being their world, their paradise.
Meanwhile in Anatolia, poets from cities like Erzurum, Hatay, Adana and Gaziantep were forming another kind of poetry which was purely Turkish. The favourite themes were love and religion. Especially in conservative quarters like Erzurum, Istanbul was sometimes seen as an evil city where people acted against the will of God. In other words, Istanbul was not really popular in some parts of the country.
As for the phrase : "Baba Ocagi´na Ates dustu"; we need to know the context in which it is used but generally speaking it means "Ones home is inflicted with a problem, a loss or a calamity. This home could be the entire fatherland or the place where your family lived.
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