HOMELAND, MY SİLENT PRİSON

Snow keeps falling — and I shiver
Not on the streets,
but right in the center of my soul.

My soul was caught in a storm
A cold wind struck my left side
I lost myself in my homeland

The snow that touched my heart back home
Became a storm raging in my soul
My body is left aching in that far-off place

Longing for home in exile —
It's a heavy burden, my friend
I miss you, Istanbul
And the scent of the sea, the cry of gulls

I miss sipping tea on the ferry,
with the scent of the sea all around
Even the smoke rising
from factory chimneys

The scent of workers
rushing through the early light of morning
The smell of sesame simit
and warm salep in the air

My İzmir, city of love
I gave you my childhood and my youth
My dreams and hopes were left unfinished
And my sweat still lingers in your streets

Women in headscarves and shalvar
I miss the voice of the young girl
singing folk songs
beside the tractor

I miss the brave souls of Anatolia —
its women and its men
those nameless heroes
who sing songs of freedom in the mountains

The shepherd’s flute melody,
The village woman on horseback —
I miss my Anatolia.

Homeland! Let go of me —
I carry longings still unmet
Don’t let my dreams remain unfinished

I made a promise to the children —
In free and full tomorrows
Their kites won’t get caught on wires
I vow to the workers’ rising power.