Sagol for sharing Phil, - I did enjoy.

As a lone woman in Istanbul I found at first that the men came onto me thick and fast. I'm no fool mind you - I could see through the sweet talk. But as I was there I thought I best be honest and stand my own ground. I think maybe cos I treated them with respect - it came back to me. I was no more harrassed - the people around me were very kind and helpful.

My turkish friends are warm, kind people. They are unbelievably generous. When I was ill they watched over me night and day I was not left alone - they fed me - called my family for me - mmmmm who in the UK would do this?

I have a Turkish man friend. I watched him doing business in his shop everyday. He was 100% honest all of the time. He never lied once about the items he was selling and would even point out an items faults! In our friendship he has been honest too. So no - not all Turkish men are liars - not at all!

In every country there are faults.
As for me I love Turkey.

Woohoo - I am going to make cay then I am going to read all these poems. Thanks Erdinc

I love that poem 'these fine days' Ramayan - it's too beautiful! Thank you whoever translated it.
Is there a Turkish version online somewhere?

Evilhermit you made me laugh Okay I will be the first fool to post my poem -it is long - bear with it! You next evilhermit -lol - be brave!

The necklace maker.

I have a necklace inside me
strung with thoughts of you
a hundred beads on it
tell our unspoken story

Do you remember Galata?
How I resisted
but you continued relentlessly
making a bead of the moment
turning each bead into a string of events

We fell into the river of thoughts
At the bottom I found
a necklace of glass beads
worn smooth and rarer than gold
untarnished, profound, irreplaceable
invaluable - God's gift and blessing
Don't think it was not beautiful
All creation is beautiful

Perhaps it was too beautiful for you?
Perhaps someone told you it was ugly
You believed them - of course -
You could do better than this
Why have time worn glass beads
formed by God & rivers?
when there is fine gold
glittering in your future?


You'll restring necklaces to adorn
and tempt with again...
in your silver basement
perhaps you will use rubies and pearls
forget ancient glass - toss it away as rubbish
deny the flowing river, the lava of the heart
exchange it for a static predictable love
you can conquer and control
Oh - delusion delusion my friend!

I give beads too much meaning anyway
They could be worthless really
Should I throw them back to the source?
They'd become night stars glowing in the sky
to shine blessings on you
fragments of memories discarded
How easy to toss out everything
close the door and walk away
Fools do it all the time

I won't be full of hopelessness
I won't subscribe to morals and rules
I won't lie and hide my face
I won't live according to expectations
confined and always hoping
boxing my love into an ugly possesiveness
I won't turn the wheel of jealousy
How can I when existence has fallen into me?

I took these broken beads
late at night I knotted them
and restrung them with my heart
In their reflection and light
I thought of you
at your workbench, your strong hands
moving beyond string and bead
beyond everything you know
prayer beads to take us further?
Inshallah

I wear these luminous internal beads
Philosophers stones
of unconditional love
Proudly. With dignity.
Like irreplaceable diamonds
Like a river always flowing
Like pure blue sky endless
I wear these beads in God's name
And I still think of your name.

I think many on our forum love poetry. I read every poem on here - they are all so beautiful. I wonder if anyone writes their own poetry and if they would share it please. Maybe some people will be kind enough to translate for us too.

Any brave poets out there???

Cyrano I think you must be an angel! Thank you for helping me.

Darling we will overcome all obstacles. We can work on this together.

My heart is always open for you. It has always been like this for me right from Galata. You are very very special to me. We can make this something beautiful and work out a way for us. Keep shining your light and thank you for being there for me and making me feel so happy. These days I smile a lot because I know you love me. My heart is at peace at last.



Please please help he is going away just now and I want to get this to him so he knows my feelings before he goes - thank you

Dear Tommysbar - your post touched me so much. Please know that life is not ever a situation that can't be changed. Changing is so very difficult - sometimes we stay in hard situations because of this. When our confidence has been knocked to make a change is even more difficult.

Somewhere inside us all there is a place that abuse and hurt cannot touch. This is the place to find so that strength can be found. We all have it hunni.

Go for love - go for the best in your life because you deserve it so much.

I hope you find the best way forward in your life.
Sending you thoughts and best wishes.

Got here late but it's never too late to celebrate!
Wishing you a very happy day.