Dead Poets Society, Final Entry, Nazim Hikmet

As anyone who watched at least one episode of "Six Feet Under" (or the recently departed "The Sopranos") knows all things must come to an end.

My Dead Poets Society entries were started as a way to bring awareness to National Poetry Month, which is in April. I thought these entries would have concluded long before now, but I decided 12 was the appropriate, magic number.

So, I conclude with own personal favorite poet. He is Turkey's most renown poet, the highly political Nazim Hikmet (1902-1963). I actually posted one of his poems, "About My Poetry," on this blog on Dec. 21, 2006_ before my Dead Poets Society entries began.

Here is "The Walnut Tree," which takes place at the famed Gulhane Park near Topkapi Saray (Palace) as translated by Gun Gecer:

My head forming clouds,

see inside me and out

I am a walnut tree in Gulhane Park

an old walnut, knot by knot, shred by shred

Neither you are aware of this, nor the police

I am a walnut tree in Gulhane Park

My leaves are nimble, numble like fish in the water

My leaves are sheer, sheer like a silk handkerchief

pick, wipe, my rose, the tear from your eyes

My leaves are hands, I have about 1,000

I touch with you a thousand hands,

I touch Istanbul

My leaves are my eyes, I look in amazement

I watch with you are 100 1000 eyes, I watch Istanbul

Like 100 1000 hearts, but, beat my leaves,

I am a walnut tree in Gulhane Park

Neither you are aware of this, nor the police