CEVIZ AGACI

Basim kopuk kopuk bulut, icim disim deniz,
ben bir ceviz agaciyim Gulhane parkinda,
budak budak, serham serham ihtiyar bir ceviz.
Ne sen bunun farkindasin, ne polis farkinda.

Ben bir ceviz agaciyim Gulhane parkinda,
Yapraklarim suda balik gibi kivil kivil.
Yapraklarim ipek mendil gibi tiril tiril.
kopariver, gozlerinin, gulum, yasini sil
Yapraklarim ellerimdir tam yuz bin elim var,
Yuz bin elle dokunurum sana, Istanbul´a.
Yapraklarim gozlerimdir. Sasarak bakarim.
Yuz bin gozle seyrederim seni, Istanbul´u.
Yuz bin yurek gibi carpar, carpar yapraklarim.

Ben bir ceviz agaciyim Gulhane parkinda,
Ne sen bunun farkindasin, ne polis farkinda.

The Walnut Tree
    
    my head foaming clouds, sea inside me and out
    I am a walnut tree in Gulhane Park
    an old walnut, knot by knot, shred by shred
    Neither you are aware of this, nor the police
    
    I am a walnut tree in Gulhane Park
    My leaves are nimble, nimble like fish in water
    My leaves are sheer, sheer like a silk handkerchief
    pick, wipe, my rose, the tear from your eyes
    My leaves are my hands, I have one hundred thousand
    I touch you with one hundred thousand hands, I touch Istanbul
    My leaves are my eyes, I look in amazement
    I watch you with one hundred thousand eyes, I watch Istanbul
    Like one hundred thousand hearts, beat, beat my leaves
    
    I am a walnut tree in Gulhane Park
    neither you are aware of this, nor the police
    
    
    Nazim Hikmet
    
    translated from Turkish by Gun Gencer