The Poet's Testimony
Sidar Sevimli
14.12.2025
131
The poet wanders alone through narrow, dark streets, exposed to cold, harsh winds.
He sees a homeless man shivering helplessly under a broken street lamp that flickers on and off. The poet's heart freezes; for a moment, he feels grateful for his own situation. He continues walking. A young girl who is too scared to walk appears before him. She cannot see ahead because she keeps looking behind her. The poet thinks to himself:
"Oh beautiful girl, I know why you are afraid, but do not fear me. I will not harm you. You are right; in such a rotten society, one does not know whom to trust."
The poet is very tired. He sits down on a bench in the nearby park. He overhears the conversation of a young couple sitting on the bench opposite him. The man is excited and joyful; he seems to be eagerly awaiting this moment. The girl, however, is unaware of what is to come and is cold. Noticing this, the young man gives her his coat. Now he begins to feel cold himself, but the excitement and joy inside him keep him warm.
The girl grows impatient:
"Will you get to the point? If I'm late getting home, my parents will be angry."
The young man takes a deep breath; his legs tremble with excitement. Gathering his courage for a moment, he declares his love. It's as if a great weight has been lifted from his shoulders. The young woman is stunned.
The poet realizes that the young girl will not accept his proposal. He does not want to witness the young man's life being turned upside down; he continues on his way. He heads home again through the narrow, dark streets. He remembers that he has no tea left at home. He buys some smuggled tea from the grocery store that is open at that hour and enters his house.
He goes into the kitchen and brews tea. While waiting for it to steep, he sinks into dark thoughts. The sharp scent of the tea steam awakens him from his reverie. He pours the brewed tea into a large mug and goes to the window in the living room. He witnesses the dawn. Sipping his tea, he tries to write down what he saw during the night. He cannot write.
How can he write? What difference would it make if he wrote about the problems of the homeless man; would he be saved from homelessness? If he wrote about the young girl who couldn't walk for fear, would society's view of women change? Would women be able to walk around as they pleased, without fear, at any hour they wanted?
What if he wrote about the young man whose blood was boiling, would hope for love blossom again?
The poet gives up writing. He is overcome by deep sorrow, gets up, goes to his room, and falls into a deep sleep.
Author:
SİDAR SEVİMLİ \ SAİT CESUR
"Oh beautiful girl, I know why you are afraid, but do not fear me. I will not harm you. You are right; in such a rotten society, one does not know whom to trust."
The poet is very tired. He sits down on a bench in the nearby park. He overhears the conversation of a young couple sitting on the bench opposite him. The man is excited and joyful; he seems to be eagerly awaiting this moment. The girl, however, is unaware of what is to come and is cold. Noticing this, the young man gives her his coat. Now he begins to feel cold himself, but the excitement and joy inside him keep him warm.
The girl grows impatient:
"Will you get to the point? If I'm late getting home, my parents will be angry."
The young man takes a deep breath; his legs tremble with excitement. Gathering his courage for a moment, he declares his love. It's as if a great weight has been lifted from his shoulders. The young woman is stunned.
The poet realizes that the young girl will not accept his proposal. He does not want to witness the young man's life being turned upside down; he continues on his way. He heads home again through the narrow, dark streets. He remembers that he has no tea left at home. He buys some smuggled tea from the grocery store that is open at that hour and enters his house.
He goes into the kitchen and brews tea. While waiting for it to steep, he sinks into dark thoughts. The sharp scent of the tea steam awakens him from his reverie. He pours the brewed tea into a large mug and goes to the window in the living room. He witnesses the dawn. Sipping his tea, he tries to write down what he saw during the night. He cannot write.
How can he write? What difference would it make if he wrote about the problems of the homeless man; would he be saved from homelessness? If he wrote about the young girl who couldn't walk for fear, would society's view of women change? Would women be able to walk around as they pleased, without fear, at any hour they wanted?
What if he wrote about the young man whose blood was boiling, would hope for love blossom again?
The poet gives up writing. He is overcome by deep sorrow, gets up, goes to his room, and falls into a deep sleep.
Author:
SİDAR SEVİMLİ \ SAİT CESUR
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