Ahmed Arif

Ahmed Arif (21 April 1927 in Siverek – 2 June 1991 in Ankara) was a Turkish-Kurdish poet.

His father, Arif Hikmet, is an ethnic Turkmen from Kirkuk, and his mother Sayre is Kurdish. Ahmed Arif studied philosophy at Ankara University. Arif was arrested on political grounds in 1950 and spent time in prison until 1952. Published in various literary journals, his poems were widely read due to their original lyricism and imagery influenced by Anatolian folk cultures. He published only one collection of poetry: Hasretinden Prangalar Eskittim (Fetters Worn Out by Longing/1968) – a volume that has gone through a record number of printings.

He was among the contributors of the literary magazine Papirüs which was edited by Cemal Süreya.

Ay Karanlık (The Moon Is Dark)

In 2023, the Paris Institute for Critical Thinking (PICT) commenced a project to translate Ahmed Arif's poems into English; so far, 2 open-access translations, both by David Selim Sayers and Evrim Emir-Sayers, have been published online.

TurkishMaviyeMaviye çalar gözlerin,Yangın mavisineRüzgarda asi,Körsem,Senden gayrısına yoksam,Bozuksam,Can benim, düş benim,Ellere nesi?Hadi gel,Ay karanlık...

İtten aç,Yılandan çıplak,Vurgun ve belaGelip durmuşsam kapınaVar mı ki doymazlığım?İlle de illeSevmelerim,Sevmelerim gibisi?Oturmuş yazıcılarFermanım yazarN'olur gel,Ay karanlık...

Dört yanım puşt zulası,Dost yüzlü,Dost gülücüklü.Cıgaramdan yanar,Alnım öperler,Suskun, hayın, çıyansı.Dört yanım puşt zulası,Dönerim dönerim çıkmaz.En leylim gecede ölesim tutmuş,Etme gel,Ay karanlık...EnglishInto the blueInto the blue hint your eyesInto the blue of a fireRaging against the windIf I’m blindIf I’m leaving behind all but youSo what if I’m through?This life is mine, this dream is mineStrangers have no clueCome, I say,The moon is dark...

If I end at your gateStarved as a curStripped as a snakeWounded and cursedWith my loving, my needMy insatiable greedWhat, then, could compete?Come what mayThe scribes all uniteMy sentence to writeCome, I pray,The moon is dark...

Bastards’ lairs to all my sidesThey look like friendsSmile like friendsLight their cigarettes off mineKiss my cheekLike worms they sneakBastards’ lairs to all my sidesTo all my sides, dead endsCraving for death in the leyliest night,Don’t stay away,The moon is dark...