Ahmet Telli

Ahmet Telli (2 December 1946 – 10 July 2026) was a Turkish poet, teacher and editor. He is regarded as one of the prominent representatives of the second generation of socialist-realist poetry that emerged in Turkey after the 1960s. His poetry combined themes of love, grief, longing and memory with political resistance and social struggle.

Telli published his first poem in 1961 and his first poetry collection, Yangın Yılları, in 1979. Among his best-known collections are Hüznün İsyan Olur, Dövüşen Anlatsın, Su Çürüdü, Belki Yine Gelirim, Çocuksun Sen and Nidâ.

Early life and education Telli was born on 2 December 1946 in Eskipazar, which was then part of Çankırı Province and is now in Karabük Province. He was of partial Circassian descent. He attended teacher-training schools in Hasanoğlan and Pazarören.

He later graduated from the Gazi Institute of Education, which was subsequently incorporated into Gazi University. He taught Turkish language and literature in Kastamonu, İnebolu, Doğanyurt and Kırıkkale, and at Ankara Atatürk High School.

Death Telli died on 10 July 2026, at the age of 79. He had been receiving treatment at Ankara Bilkent City Hospital and had been intubated two days before his death. Two days later, he was buried at Karşıyaka Cemetery.

Works The dates below refer to the original publication of the works rather than later editions.