Nazım Hikmet Ran (January 15, 1902 – June 3, 1963) the blue eyed Giant, was a Turkish poet, playwright, novelist and memoirist. Winner of the Lenin prize, he was described as a romantic revolutionary. Hikmet broke the boundaries of syllabic meter, he changed his form and preferred writing in free-verse which harmonised with the rich vocal properties of the Turkish language. Nazim Hikmet was well known for his Marxist inclinations and his writings were filled with social criticism. Hikmet has remained one of the best known Turkish poets to the west till date.

"The strangest creature on earth"

You're like a scorpion, my brother,
you live in cowardly darkness
like a scorpion.
You're like a sparrow, my brother,
always in a sparrow's flutter.
You're like a clam, my brother,
closed like a clam, content,
And you're frightening, my brother,
like the mouth of an extinct volcano.

Not one,
not five--
unfortunately, you number millions.
You're like a sheep, my brother:
when the cloaked drover raises his stick,
you quickly join the flock
and run, almost proudly, to the slaughterhouse.
I mean you're strangest creature on earth--
even stranger than the fish
that couldn't see the ocean for the water.
And the oppression in this world
is thanks to you.
And if we're hungry, tired, covered with blood,
and still being crushed like grapes for our wine,
the fault is yours--
I can hardly bring myself to say it,
but most of the fault, my dear brother, is yours.

Letters from Prison

Take out the dress i first saw you in
look your best,
look like spring trees
Wear in your hair
the carnation i sent you in a letter from prison,
raise your kissable, lined, broad white forehead.
Today, not broken and sad-
no way!
today Nazim Hikmet's woman must be beautiful
like a rebel flag...

Do not live on Earth

Like a house tenant

Or visitor to the countryside

Do live on Earth

As if the world was your father’s house

Trust in love, land and sea

But trust Man before other things

Give your love to clouds, machines and books

But love Man more than other things

Do feel the gloom of a dry branch

And a lifeless planet

And a lame animal

But feel the gloom of Man first of all

Let all the goods of earth

Bring you joy

Let shadow and light

Bring you joy

Let the four seasons

Bring you joy

But let man bring you

The utmost joy

Presented by Aksa Garsein