Turkish poetry often tells us stories of love, anger, sorrow, longing, agony, happiness, and excitement… many with a scent of Istanbul. These poems were authored by famous Turkish poets decades ago and still address our feelings over the many years. Poetry helps with the burdens of our souls, and I too write poems from time to time in my native language of Turkish.
In this humble list of curated poems, you will feel Istanbul, hear Istanbul, and even find yourself visualizing the backstreets of Istanbul. You can find the original Turkish versions accompanying the poems, while I have translated excerpts from them into English here.
Don’t Get Down on Me, Istanbul! (Üstüme Varma İstanbul)
Ümit Yaşar Oğuzcan (1926-1984)
I came to you, full of hope
Don’t get me drunk, Istanbul, please
One day I also melt in your streets
My bones get rotten
And my name is forgotten
You stay alive again
The sky, clouds, seas remain
Don’t play Istanbul, don’t play with me
One day this sorrow kills me
Here I come and lean on your door
I am like a broken wall in front of you
Don’t get me drunk, I’m dizzy
Do not get down on me, Istanbul, I am sad.
Istanbul Folk Song (Istanbul Türküsü)
Orhan Veli Kanık (1914-1950)
In the Bosphorus in Istanbul
I am a poor Orhan Veli.
I am Veli’s son
In an indescribable sorrow
I sat in Rumelihisarı
I sat down and sang a song.
On Istanbul’s marble stones
On my head, there are seagulls
Tears fall down from my eyes;
My coy lover
This is because of you.
From Another Hill (Bir Başka Tepeden)
Yahya Kemal Beyatlı (1884-1958)
I looked at you from a hill yesterday, dear Istanbul!
I have not seen any place, I have not visited, I do not like.
As long as I live, set yourself on my heart.
Even loving a simple neighborhood is worth a lifetime.
Many cities are seen in the world.
However, you are the creator of enchanted beauties.
I lived the most pleasant and long dream
Inside you there is the one living for many years.
They die in you, live with you.
My Life, Istanbul (Canım Istanbul)
Necip Fazık Kısakürek (1904-1983)
They melted my soul and froze it in the mold.
They put it on the soil as Istanbul.
Something is inside me like air, color, mood, climate.
She is my love that has surpassed time and place.
Its flower is gilded, its water is scaly
Moon and sun are from Istanbul since the beginning.
Istanbul (Istanbul)
Vedat Türkali (1919-2016)
When the dawn winds blow in clusters
With your ships that tear out the blue cambrics
I think of you, from far away
Istanbul
The evenings at your Golden Horn with its endless posts
The spring in your islands, the sun in your Süleymaniye
You are a beautiful city, the city of our cause
Istanbul
This much pain wasn’t suffered in vain
Wait with your grand and quiet Süleymaniye
With your parks, bridges, squares
Wait for us, Istanbul
In the dark streets of Tophane
Wait for us, with your children cuddling up
Wait for our passing by with victory songs
Istanbul
We are going to tear down the reign of the bandits
Wait for those days to come, Istanbul
We deserve you, and you deserve us, Istanbul
Istanbul
This much pain wasn’t suffered in vain
Wait with your grand and quiet Süleymaniye
With your parks, bridges, squares
Wait for us, Istanbul.
Remembering (Hatırlama)
Oktay Rıfat (1914-1988)
I remember every minute of it
The time in Erenköy
It comes into my dream
Together with spring and my Türkan.
We had a room with ivy around
Our window overlooking the orchards
She has been as fresh as the roses
I was madly in love with her.
Our heads rest in the same bed
My hair would tangle in hers
She was a slender girl, slim and charming
Whatever she wore she would look good.
I Would Have Wanted to Be (Olmak Isterdim)
Özdemir Asaf (1923-1981)
I would have wanted to be in Istanbul right now.
With you in the narrow roads of Mihrabat Grove
Walking side by side, side by side
Watching Istanbul from the wings of the seagulls
And you would be with me, man.
Looking from Çamlıca to the moon,
We would have listened to the most beautiful love songs.
And as I disappeared in your eyes
I would have screamed to the Marmara saying, “I love you!”
Istanbul and You (Istanbul ve Sen)
Nurullah Genç (1960 – )
Istanbul always reminds me of you.
Because her eyes are at least as green as yours
Still like a smiling tulip
You send me your exile
Like a fortress surrounded by four sides
You are giving neither a secret nor a hope.
The ships are going, you are going
Your green eyes reflect on the waters
Sadness is like the waves, lonely and deep
You are leaving me for Istanbul
Do you have any other favorite poems that speak of Istanbul? Please let us know in the comments.
