Thanks to Serdar Kiliç for introducing me to this poem and translating it:
Translation
Why do you groan, O Watermill; For I’ve troubles, I groan
I fell in love with the Lord; For It do I groan
They found me on a mountain; My arms and wings they plucked
Saw me fit for a watermill; For I’ve troubles, I groan
From the mountain they cut my wood; My disparate order they ruined
But an unwearied poet I am; For I’ve troubles, I groan
I am The Troubled Watermill; My water flows, roaring and rumbling
Thus has God commanded; For I’ve troubles, I groan
I am but a mountain’s tree; Neither am I bitter, nor sweet
I am but a pleader to the Lord; For I’ve troubles, I groan
Yunus, whoever comes here will find no joy, will not reach his desire
Nobody stays in this fleeting abode; For I’ve troubles, I groan
Original:
Dolap niçin inilersin; Derdim vardır inilerim,
Ben Mevla’ya aşık oldum; Onun için inilerim,
Beni bir dağda buldular; Kolum kanadım yoldular,
Dolaba layık gördüler; Derdim vardır inilerim,
Dağdan kestiler hezenim; Bozuldu türlü düzenim,
Ben usanmaz bir ozanım; Derdim vardır inilerim,
Benim adım dertli dolap; Suyum akar yalap yalap,
Böyle emreylemiş Çalap; Derdim vardır inilerim,
Ben bir dağın ağacıyım; Ne tatlıyım ne acıyım,
Ben Mevlaya duacıyım; Derdim vardır inilerim,
Yunus bunda gelen gülmez; Kişi muradına ermez,
Bu fanide kimse kalmaz; Derdim vardır inilerim
Amazing poem by Abdurehim Ötkür and performance by Abdurehim Heyit
Translation (thanks to Arthur Schechter for help):
At sunrise, I saw the Sultan of my eyes
I said: “Are you the Sultan?” She said: “No, no.”
Her eyes are blazing, her hands are hennaed;
I said: “Are you Venus?” She said: “No, no.”
I said: “What’s your name?” She said: “It is Ayhan.”
I said: “Where’s your home?” She said: “Turfan.”
I said: “[What’s] On your head?” She said: “A sad farewell.”
I said: “Are you in love?” She said: “No, no”.
I said: “It looks like the moon.” She said: “My face?”
I said: “It’s like a star.” She said: “My eye?”
I said: “It blazes fire.” She said: “My word?”
I said: “Are you a volcano?” She said: “No, no.”
I said: “What is furrowed?” She said: “It’s my eyebrow.”
I said: “What is a black wave?” She said: “It’s my hair.”
I said: “What is fifteen?” She said: “It is my age.”
I said: “Are you the beloved?” She said: “No, no.”
I said: “What is the sea?” She said: “It is my heart.”
I said: “What is beautiful? She said: “It is my lip.”
I said: “What is sugar? She said: “It is my tongue.”
I said: “Give my mouth a taste?” She said: “No, no.”
I said: “The chain stops?” She said: “On my neck.”
I said: “Is there death?” She said: “On my way.”
I said: “Shackles?” She said: “On my wrists.”
I said: “Are you afraid?” She said: “No, no.”
I said: “Why aren’t you afraid?” She said: “I have God.”
I said: “Anything else?” She said: “I have my people.”
I said: “No more?” She said: “I have a soul.”
I said: “Are you grateful?” She said: “No, no.”
I said: “What is the request?” She said: “It is my rosy smile.”
I said: “What about war?” She said: “It is my way.”
I said: “What is Ötkür?” She said: “He is my servant/hand.”*
I said: “Will you sell him?” She said: “No, no.”
*The poet’s name Ötkür, means “sharp” so this line means also that the poet’s hand/pen is sharp.
Original:
Seher vakti gördüm, gözümün sultanını;
Dedim: “Sultan mısın?” O dedi: “Yok, yok.”
Gözleri ışıltılı, elleri kınalı;
Dedim: “Çolpan mısın?” O dedi: “Yok, yok.”
Dedim: “İsmin nedir?” Dedi: “Ayhan’dır.”
Dedim: “Yurdun neresi?” Dedi: “Turfan’dır.”
Dedim: “Başındaki?” Dedi: “Hicrandır.”
Dedim: “Hayran mısın?” O dedi: “Yok, yok”.
Dedim: “Aya benzer.” Dedi: “Yüzüm mü?”
Dedim: “Yıldız gibi.” Dedi: “Gözüm mü?”
Dedim: “Işık saçar.” Dedi: “Sözüm mü?”
Dedim: “Volkan mısın?” O dedi: “Yok, yok.”
Dedim: “Çatık nedir?” Dedi: “Kaşımdır.”
Dedim: “Dalga nedir?” Dedi: “Saçımdır.”
Dedim: “On beş nedir?” Dedi: “Yaşımdır.”
Dedim: “Canan mısın?” O dedi: “Yok, yok.”
Dedim: “Deniz nedir?” Dedi: “Kalbimdir.”
Dedim: “Güzel nedir? Dedi: “Dudağımdır.”
Dedim: “Şeker nedir? Dedi: “Dilimdir.”
Dedim: “Ver ağzıma?” O dedi: “Yok, yok.”
Dedim: “Zincir durur?” Dedi: “Boynumda.”
Dedim: “Ölüm vardır.” Dedi: “Yolumda.”
Dedim: “Bilezik?” Dedi: “Kolumda.”
Dedim: “Korkar mısın?” O dedi: “Yok, yok.”
Dedim: “Niçin korkmazsın?” Dedi: “Tanrım var.”
Dedim: “Başka?” Dedi: “Halkım var.”
Dedim: “Daha yok mu?” Dedi: “Ruhum var.”
Dedim: “Şükran mısın?” O dedi: “Yok, yok.”
Dedim: “İstek nedir?” Dedi: “Gülümdür.”
Dedim: “Ya mücadele?” Dedi: “Yolumdur.”
Dedim: “Ötkür neyindir?” Dedi: “Kulumdur.”
Dedim: “Satar mısın?” O dedi: “Yok, yok.”
