TE16 Turkish Delight

Haydar Ergulen

Gazel of Secrets

like a cedar I come from the East of love in the East there’s a love crossed like a desert

if I crossed, I’d be crossed, I’d smile and catch fire

all I didn’t have I left at a shop called the world no one to claim the goods, only wounding words

were I silent, I’d be queried, I’d speak and catch fire

as for the secret of the wine, I’m an abandoned inn useless to fume, the world’s a wreck of souls

if I opened up, I’d be shut down, I’d dry out and catch fire

at the four gates I turned Cloud, a mirror deceived me a mirror that can’t keep its silver wears a dark face

if I looked, I’d be crushed, I’d fall and catch fire

when your hope in me died, I let you loose in the world since our discourse died, I’ve been diving deeper and deeper

as a novice I only shed tears, now I’m on fire inside out

(tr. Clifford Endres and Selhan Savcıgil Endres)

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