Araf Şiiri - Hakan Karaduman

ARAF

There is a place between me and myself, outside of me

Just outside of me, but far away…

The skin I dress myself in, more than snakes

My skin that is unsoiled, uncorrupted, more useful…

I peel it off my body with my hands: its pains hurt so much!

…

I leave my soul aside, it is my mother

The enemy region between me and the one outside, right between me

I remain in the araf

…

If there were enemies in that region, they would shoot me like crazy

Their weapons are incredible thunder… the metallic sounds are stronger!

…

I think about who I am killing, who?

I wake up in horror, the half-real, half-helpless self that remains from my dream…

….

I killed people in my dream, regretting every moment

They were people…

Terrorists, filthy, immoral, slaves of the cruel god he believed in…

I don’t want to kill, oh guardian of honor,

Woman hater,

Old monster with no self-confidence!

Get out of the hearts of the oppressed; why would you want babies

to be covered in black?

…

My letter is for the ignorant:

It’s not me

He says.

Hakan Karaduman