Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Enis Batur

THE SERAPHIM

The story your friend told might have
Actually happened, but it’s not true.
I, who, have seen everyone, have not
been seen by anyone for many a year:
deep under plaster they buried my fragile
face, the most mysterious angel of
the east. But I heard every single fragment
of sound, I felt every movement before it stirred,
I never let it slip my mind  that this city was entrusted
to me. I know not how to sleep nor how to forget,
I am the witness of all that has come to pass—
At the very moment the ‘Independenta’ crashed
He believed dawn had broken in the middle of the night.

Serafim

Serafim

Arkadaşınızın anlattığı hikaye
yaşanmış olabilir, doğru değil.
Herkesi gördüm ben, sittin sene
kimseye görünmedim: Doğunun
en gizli gizemli meleği, alçıların
altına gömdüler narin, derin yüzümü.
Duydum oysa her ses kırıntısını, her
hareketi henüz doğmadan sezdim,
bu şehrin bana emanet edildiğini
bir an olsun aklımdan çıkarmadım.
Uyumak ve unutmak nedir bilmem,
Şahidiyim bütün yaşananların-
Independenta’nın çarpıştığı andı:
Geceni ortasında gün doğdu sandı.
Close

THE SERAPHIM

The story your friend told might have
Actually happened, but it’s not true.
I, who, have seen everyone, have not
been seen by anyone for many a year:
deep under plaster they buried my fragile
face, the most mysterious angel of
the east. But I heard every single fragment
of sound, I felt every movement before it stirred,
I never let it slip my mind  that this city was entrusted
to me. I know not how to sleep nor how to forget,
I am the witness of all that has come to pass—
At the very moment the ‘Independenta’ crashed
He believed dawn had broken in the middle of the night.

THE SERAPHIM

The story your friend told might have
Actually happened, but it’s not true.
I, who, have seen everyone, have not
been seen by anyone for many a year:
deep under plaster they buried my fragile
face, the most mysterious angel of
the east. But I heard every single fragment
of sound, I felt every movement before it stirred,
I never let it slip my mind  that this city was entrusted
to me. I know not how to sleep nor how to forget,
I am the witness of all that has come to pass—
At the very moment the ‘Independenta’ crashed
He believed dawn had broken in the middle of the night.
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Prins Bernhard cultuurfonds
Lira fonds
Versopolis
J.E. Jurriaanse
Gefinancierd door de Europese Unie
Elise Mathilde Fonds
Stichting Verzameling van Wijngaarden-Boot
Veerhuis
VDM
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère