Poem: For The Martyrs Of Canakkale/Gallipoli)

[Tosun Saral]

For The Martyrs Of Canakkale
by Turkish National poet Mehmet Akif Ersoy

Shot down, on their spotlessly clean foreheads they lie,
For the sake of Crescent what suns are setting, O God!
Hey Soldier! Who has fallen on the ground for this land!
It would be worth their while
For our ancestors to descend from heaven
And kiss your unsullied forehead!
How great you are; our religion is saved by your blood;
Only the lions of the Battle of Bedr were as glorious.
Who could dig the grave that won't be too small for you?
`Come', if I say, `Let's bury you into History!'
You won't be contained in it.
That book isn't large enough
For the epochs you played havoc with.
Only eternity can contain you.
Saying, `this is your tomstone'
If I could place the Kaaba on your head,
And listening to the divine inspiration of my soul
Write down your epitaph,
Then, if I could take the voult of heaven
As if it was a woollen cloak
And cover your bleeding tomb
With all the planets.
If I could build with April clouds
A dome over your tomb,
And extend the seven starred Pleiades from there;
You, enwrapped with your blood 'neath the chandelier
While lying there,
If I could bring the moon to your graveside
And make it attend on you as your keeper
Until daybreak,
And then, if I could fill your chandelier to the brim
With dawn;
If I could wrap round your wound
In the evenings with tulles of sunset,
Even then I could not say
I have done enough
To cherish your blessed memory.










To ever lasting memory of my grandfather Hodja Ismail Efendi. A Turkish Army Regimental Imam. He was killed in action while charging againts Russians in front of his regiment at Koprukoy/Erzurum in 1916. May Allahs mercy on him. Allah rahmet eylesin! Dilerimki oyle olsun!

[Mehmet Fatih]

Yes, this is a great poem.Turkish version is more touchy.
Although national poet Mehmet Akif Ersoy is generally disrespected in recent years.His poems are great.

Regards

[Tosun Saral]

Yes, this is a great poem.Turkish version is more touchy.
Although national poet Mehmet Akif Ersoy is generally disrespected in recent years.His poems are great.

Regards

No sir Mehmet Akif Ersoy is not disrespected in recent years in Turkey. He has a respectable place in all Turks hearts. He is the writer of Turkish National Anthem. On the other hand some extreme fundamentalists who are againts Kemalist movement and reformes put him on the stage as their idol because of his opposition into Kemalist reforms. In 1970's his picture even took place on the 20.-TL's as a challange to Kemalist reforms. We, Kemalists respect him what we disrespect is that they want to make him an idol of anti Kemalist movement. With by best wishes for Seker Bayram, the holidays.

[Mehmet Fatih]

Mr. Saral,

Just remember how the commander(I dont even remeber his name.) of GATA(Gulhane Military Medical Academy) called him a "yobaz"(fundamentalist) in his opening speech for the beginning of the new educational year.This has happened a few years before.A soldier shouldnt have said that.My father(He is a retired air force officer.) always taught me to respect the souls of this kind of national heroes.
I am sure you read daily newspapers.Just have a look at the national newspapers on March 12. How many of the newspapers calling themselves "Kemalist" give a place for the national anthem and his poet in their columns? Or how many so called "Kemalist" organizations(I wont mention their names here.) celebrate this day or honor the poet?
Please dont ignore this kind of things.
My best wishes too for Ramazan Bayramý.

Regards