Passes Through Eastern Mountains

Hilmi YAVUZ

PASSES THROUGH EASTERN MOUNTAINS

it was a long story

by allusions we cut it short

"clear the path for love"
we saw and made way for it
like a path emerging from distress
and leading to distress
over the world's roof terrace
we cut a dash

and our heart disowned us
by a cataclysm broke loose the mountain
and whirling fell autumn
blocked are passes for sadness of heart
and like whirling dervishes
we cut across the bends of Ziganas and Kops

of fire were the nights of old
"touch them and you get scorched
touch them and you get scorched
and turn our rose into ashes"
poets are evenings, fire temples
and we cut through our ashes
with the bird of paradise

the lake is dissolving into an image now
the lake marrying the mystery
and we saw marigold disappear
journeying towards a swan
thus by a dream we cut off our journey

it was a long story
by allusions we cut it short

Translated by Ender Gürol