Erzurumlu Emrah

ERZURUMLU EMRAH (19th-20th cent.)

It is said that he was born in the Tanbura village that is between Erzurum and Pavi. The information about his life depends on the rumors and poems of the folk. There is no certain date of his death. Fuad Köprülü accepts it as 1854.

I met to a young girl this morning

I said are you sleepy, she said no no

Her white hands knotty ornamented with henna

I said are you sleepy, she said no no

I asked what is pearl, she said it is my teeth

I asked what is pencil, she said it is my eyebrow

I asked what is fifteen, she said it is my age

I said is there more, she said no no

I said there is death, she said I will die

I said there is cruelty, she said it is on my neck

I said white breasts, she said they are in my bosom

I said give them to my mouth, she said no no

I asked what is Erzurum, she said it is my province

I asked do you go, she said it is my way

I asked what is Emrah, she said he is my man

I asked would you betray, she said no no

Let me hold your hand

Let me go to the mountains

I will be an injured nightingale

Go down to orchards

One of you know, one of you don’t

This world remains to nobody

I can’t tell the name of my lover

It would be subject to gossip

Emrah makes this day

My vapor goes to the throne of God

This is the day to go to my lover

Let me set off