Eternal Recurrence

Can YÜCEL

ETERNAL RECURRENCE

A refrain sung by the wind
over
and over again
out of caverns in the dawn
echoing round the rocks
and inducing stones and
dervishes from the Bektashi order
to chant incantations
before swarming down over dales and valleys
having grazed the backs of mountain ridges
the wind that blows
the wind that howls
frolicking on the stringed lutes of almond trees
and impregnating the fertile soil of spring

Daisies playmate
revelling in the sun
causing poplar leaves to glitter and give the impression
of a mart adorned with a multitude of mirrors
while cypress trees hum frenzied airs
pruning dead branches
and felling mulberry trees rotten to the core
withdraws in the dusk into the mountains
leaving me alone with my Self
alone
all alone
leaving no trace behind
except the dead leaves
once again in the crepuscular gloom of the leaves
shall the wind resume its refrain
o north wind, cheek by jowl with me
o my brother both here and hereafter
o my companion of paradise and of hell
o my comrade-at-arms.

I saw the eyes of the night
They were not bluish grey.

Translated by Ender Gürol