A Poem for the Master who quenches steel with water

By Refik Durbaş
Translated by Alice Melike Ülgezer and Özlem Özmetin.

The Poet says:

Who can compare what I give to words

with a Master who quenches

the thirst of steel

with water?

The Steel Master answers:                            

My dear Poet

steel is like words.

If you keep the fire burning at fever pitch,

it can melt both the spirit and the body

Click here to listen to Refik Durbaş reading this poem in Turkish on Lyrikline.org.