Poet, author
Translated by Jonathan Ross and Ayşe Çalık Ross, Ali F. Bilir’s poem “Whither?” is published in New York, First Literary Review-East, an online literary journal directed by poet Cindy Sostchen-Hochman. The January 2020 issue of the journal can be accessed at the website rulrul.4mg.com.
Ali F. Bilir signs his new short story book “Denize Varınca” at TÜYAP Çukurova Book Fair. Let’s meet at the “Edebiyatcilar Dernegi-Association of Literature” stand between 15:30 and 17:30 on Sunday, January 5!
Dear friends,
I am sending my regards from Tallahasse Florida and I would like to share about a great activity I have attended with my wife Saadet and my daughter Defne.
This event was organised by ‘Big Bend Poets’ a chapter of Florida Writer’s Association at a Barnes and Noble store on March 14th, 2017. The event started with short speeches facilitated by the Chair Summer Hill Seven.
Then Saadet and I recited two poems from Karacaoglan, a Turkish folk poet. This is followed with ‘Kim Olursan Ol Yine Gel’ from Rumi by Defne. Last, Defne (in English) and I (in Turkish) read ‘Just Smile’ (tranlated by Jonathan Ross and published in Scribbles March 2017 edition) which I have written for my grandson, as well as three of my poems from Migration Ballads.
Wave have sent our regards to the universal world of poetry, to Spring, to love, hope and peace altogether with our American poet friends.
I am ending my words with the poem I wrote for my grandson, Can:
Just Smile
For my grandson, Can
Just smile,
and let the stars in the sky glint
in your eyes.
Just smile,
and let wild flowers bloom
from your mother’s face.
Just smile,
and let your father whisper his heart
into your ears.
Just smile,
and let your aunt sing you
a lullaby.
Just smile,
and let grandma and grandpa find a place
to hold
their loving warmth.
Just smile,
and let good news come
from your country.
Tallahassee
Ali F. Bilir -Translated by Jonathan Ross
Dear friends,
Written two years ago when I was abroad, my newest poem, “Greetings to the Earth”, was published in January 2017 issue of the First Literary Review- East, an editorial of Cindy Hochman. I am abroad now and I am in similar longings and feelings …
I love my beautiful people in my beautiful country …
Ali F. Bilir
Greetings from Home
Greetings from home came wafting in
with the morning wind,
bearing news of the first snow
from the Taurus Mountains of Mersin.
They dropped by my woolen sweater
lingering in the chest,
a present from my wife.
All the winters it’s been through,
all the weeks of snow and ice!
Through it has been patiently threaded
the warm touch of passing time.
Greetings from home came wafting in,
with the scent of thyme.
Ali F. Bilir
Translated by Jonathan Ross & M. Ali Sulutas
Selamı Geldi Ülkemin
Selamı geldi ülkemin
sabah rüzgarı ile
düşen ilk karın sevincini
göndermiş
Mersin, Toros Dağlarından.
Unutmamış sandıktaki
yün kazağımı
karımın armağanı.
-Kaç kış geçti üstünden,
kaç zemheri?
sabırla örülmüş günlerin
sıcak dokunuşunu.
Selamı geldi ülkemin
kekik kokusu ile.
Ali F. Bilir
San Antonio – Texas, Kasım 2015
Ali F. Bilir’s poem “Give Me a New Name” is published at the May 2015 issue of First Literary Review – East.
Give me a new name
a fresh one
in rainbow colors,
an unfolded butterfly
kites, birds, and the sound of zephyr,
passing through the mountains
and the infinite blue
a sailboat on the shore, and
smile of a child
waving
neither a dark shadow,
a rope, a lasso,
nor a manacle
should fetter it,
give me a new name
freely….
—Ali F. Bilir
American poet and writer Cindy Hochman’s poem has been published in the Kıyı Magazine with Ali F. Bilir’s translation. Hochman’s poem, “What I would do With Your Secret”, which is translated as “Ne Yapardım Senin Gizinle” may be found in the Kıyı Magazine’s September-October 2014 issue, on page 24.
Note: You can click on the photos for larger versions.
Ali F. Bilir ‘s “Color of Death” was published in the anthology of the Big Bend Poets . Published in 2014, the book is sold in Amazon.com . 100% of the book ‘s proceeds will be donated to programs supporting young poets in Florida.
Note: You can reach the larger version by clicking on the photo.
Cindy Hochman’s “Separation-Ayrılık” has been translated into Turkish and published in the literary magazine Afrodisyas Sanat, in March-April 2012 issue.
Love and marriage
Love and marriage
Soon dissolve and into
Divorce and disparage
Yet another dangling participle
no arms, no legs, no love,
a paperless amputation
A parting of the ways
A parting of the wise
A parting of the wife
My name, an awkward black dash
heavy hyphen of who-am-I?
This was an 8 1/2 minute gap
This was a bit-stop along 1-95
somewhere between
Red state, blue state
Yours and mine
Here and there
There and gone
Even an amicable div-
Even an uncontested divo-
Even a YOU-CAN-KEEP-THE-GODDAMN-HOUSE
divorce
Isn’t completely bloodless
Leaves a little strain, a little sprain, a little stain
Between annual and void
by Cindy Hochman
See Turkish translation by Ali F. Bilir
Cindy Hochman is a proofreader and researcher from Brooklyn, New York. She is the editor-in-chief of the online journal First Literary Review-East and an associate editor for Mobius, ThePoetryMagazine. She is the co-host of the Green Pavilion Reading Event and the associate editor of Thin Air Cable Show. In addition, Cindy is a contributing book reviewer for Pedestal Magazine, Home Planet News, Coldfront Magazine, Gently Read Literature, and New Mirage Journal. She strongly believes that poetry has the power to forge peace around the globe.
Also, Cindy is the author of two published poetry books, “Wednesday’s Child” (2001) and “The Carcinogenic Bride (2011).
Author and critic John Amen evaluates Cindy’s work as following: “Cindy Hochman immediately enrolls as a reader with rhythm and humor, as well as quirky and compelling imagery. As her collection progresses, she veers in more sultry and surrealistic directions, never losing her sense of playfulness…”
I wish I had taken trips,
I say to myself, to unknown places,
that people were less strange to each other
than our own feelings.
I return to this familiar point
and feel, along the bank of the river,
wind sweeping away
all the footprints in the sand.
Whenever I read a poem
about separation,
my hands go to my heart.
By Ali F. Bilir
Translated by M. Ali Sulutas
Edited in English by Susan Bright
The day the baby is born
it closes its eyes
to hear its own voice.
Then loneliness sets in,
the cliff, the sea builds up
over its inner world
and swallows its loved ones.
When fire touches its small fingers
and the mother kisses burnt fingers,
the child recognizes love.
By Ali F. Bilir
Translated by M. Ali Sulutas
Edited in English by Susan Bright