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Fiction

Water

By Birhan Keskin
Translated from Turkish by George Messo

I won’t talk anymore, I won’t say harsh words in the morning for a dream I embroider a flower of pearl on my bosom.

I never knew, what you understood from my words, I spoke the forest’s frightfulness the plain’s tranquility silenced you slept a long sleep, I saw the dream.

Unceasingly I spoke of a path: I’m water, I didn’t forget my name I spoke of a mountain I came across while wandering; I didn’t meddle with the world’s affairs, the world does not console me, does not hold me, wandering around in its dirt still I came out clean.

I carry a pearl-like flower in my bosom: this is a spell I had cast against life I don’t speak anymore, if I broke your heart know that I’ve fallen beside you.

Translation of “Su.” By arrangement with the author. Translation copyright 2008 by George Messo. All rights reserved.

Read Birhan Keskin’s “Door” and “Tunnel”

English

I won’t talk anymore, I won’t say harsh words in the morning for a dream I embroider a flower of pearl on my bosom.

I never knew, what you understood from my words, I spoke the forest’s frightfulness the plain’s tranquility silenced you slept a long sleep, I saw the dream.

Unceasingly I spoke of a path: I’m water, I didn’t forget my name I spoke of a mountain I came across while wandering; I didn’t meddle with the world’s affairs, the world does not console me, does not hold me, wandering around in its dirt still I came out clean.

I carry a pearl-like flower in my bosom: this is a spell I had cast against life I don’t speak anymore, if I broke your heart know that I’ve fallen beside you.

Translation of “Su.” By arrangement with the author. Translation copyright 2008 by George Messo. All rights reserved.

Read Birhan Keskin’s “Door” and “Tunnel”

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