A Poem Written For ''The Jailhouse Gate'' Of Ibrahim Balaban Poem by Metin Sahin

there were six women in front of the ıron gate
five of them were sitting on the ground.one of them standing without haste

there were eight chidren in front of the iron gate
ıt was obvious they had not learnt how to smile yet

there were six women in front of the iron gate
grief in their hands..their feet patient

there were eight children in front of the iron gate
the ones in their swaddling cloth were looking as genii

there were six women in front of the iron gate
they had hidden their hair firmly and closed

there were eight children in front of the iron gate
one of them with his palms clasped

there was a gendarme in front of the iron gate
he was not a friend nor an enemy.the watch lasted long. it was hot

there was a horse in front of the iron gate
almost weeping and was sad

there was a dog in front of the iron gate
its fur yellow..its nose black

there were green peppers in the reed panniers
in the sacks coal..in the carpet bags onıon and garlics

there wre six women in front of the iron gate
and behind the iron gate my lady there were five hundred men

neither of the six women were you
but one of the five hundred men was I..longing for you..

Nazım HİKMET..TRanslatıon Metin ŞAHIN