As İlkyaz, we work to introduce three young writers every issue.We translate these works, which are made up of a short stories or poems, into English and endeavour to introduce them to readers outside of Turkey. This exchange, we hope, will create new audiences for our writers in the world arena and introduce them to a global network of the world’s literary figures.
If you haven’t yet had a chance to read, you can reach the last issue’s writings here.
Don’t forget to check out our new writers under the age of 15 in “15-“, the archive of stories from everyday lives in “Human Portraits”, and the collaborative work of young writers and artists at “Literature +
This month’s reading recommendations for young writers comes from one of the most well read contemporary writers in Turkey Ahmet Ümit!
You can also follow our blog on the main page with food for thought content and our collective music playlist on Spotify!
Umut Özer – Yaren Kasidesi / A Lover’s Eulogy
You were my lover.
I am nervous for a few upcoming trials.
Publicly inducing hate and enmity,
Willful and malicious injury of a public officer,
A few qualified acts,
Armed menace with a guitar.
Broken bottle cullet in the other’s hand.
He is here to cause trouble.
A cut on the wrist, handcuffing behind the back, that’s it.
About the author: Born in 1998 in Adana. Student of Istanbul University Law Faculty. Has poems published in Şahsiyet and Güney magazines.
Hasret Topçu – Komet / Comet
Komet I still can’t forget for example… She was our amble, blood red, white-footed, dotted horse. My grand-pa would always take the amble ponies, train and raise them. He wouldn’t call a horse he hasn’t raised mine. Komet was one of them. She had a graceful, symbolic stride. My grand-pa would dress Komet like a bride in traditional holidays. He would get himself a shalvar tailored and get Komet new running gear along with it. Red, tasseled ones.
About the author:1997 senesinde Diyarbakır’da doğdu. İlk öğrenimine İstanbul’da başlayarak Gümüşpala İlköğretim Okulu’ndan mezun oldu. Ardından Avcılar Sabancı 50.Yıl Anadolu Lisesi’ne devam ederek eğitimini tamamladı. Bu süre zarfında, Avcılar Belediyesi ilçe şiir yazma yarışmasında birincilik ödülüne layık görüldü. İstanbul Kabataş Erkek Lisesi’nin yayınladığı şiir seçkisi kitabına “Yarım Yaşayanlar” şiiriyle müdahil oldu. Lise eğitimi süresince, ilçe geleneksel hikâye yazma yarışmasında ve kompozisyon yazma yarışmasında birinciliğe, Tuzla Belediyesi Geleneksel Ulusal Şiir Yarışmasında mansiyon ödülüne layık görülerek, yılın onur öğrencisi seçildi. Akabinde Trakya Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi Tarih bölümüne kaydoldu. Üniversite eğitiminin ikinci yılında çift ana dal programıyla, Türk Dili ve Edebiyatı bölümüne de başlayarak, eğitimini sürdürdü. 2018 yılında Türkiye Yazarlar Birliği Ulusal Kapalıçarşı Şiir Yarışmasında birinciliğe layık görüldü. Bununla beraber Tarih eğitiminin üçüncü yılında yurtdışına gitmeye karar vererek, Mevlâna Değişim Programına başvurdu. Kırgızistan-Türkiye Manas Üniversitesi’ne kabul edildi. Böylelikle “Kırgızistan Lise Tarih Programında Türkiye Tarihi” başlığıyla, lisans bitirme tezini vererek bölümü dereceyle bitirdi. Ardından Trakya Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü’nde Yüksek Lisans eğitimine başladı. Türk dili ve Edebiyatı bölümüne halen devam etmekte olup, 2021 bahar döneminde mezun olması planlanmaktadır.
Vedat Barga- Mutlak Mülkiyet /Absolute Posession
Waiting has a whole other name in these hours.
Another voice, colour and skin.
A tree, that gets cold if you touch it
A red, that wilts if you see it
A bug shushed when you hear it,
Becomes the waiting.
About the author: I was born in Şanlıurfa-Siverek. Currently studying Architecture and Design in Eskişehir. I see poetry as a part of daily life. Poetry in fact is central to everything and what falls on us is to be able to look at it and transcribe it.
***NOTE ON INTERNATIONAL TRANSLATIONS***
Before the COVID pandemic hit, we also worked to translate our young writers works into a third language, by establishing collaborations with PEN centre’s all over the world. In December, we initiated this effort with Norwegian PEN‘s lead. After PEN Germany, PEN Belgium/Flanders continued the very same role for the month of February. For March, PEN French Centre took over the role of promoting our young writers abroad. For the writings of April, we collaborated with PEN South Africa. For May, Scottish PEN took over the role of amplifying our young writers voices within their membership and audience, and PEN Catalan promoted our writers for June to their own members and audience. For July our partnership reached out to Russia, in collaboration with PEN Moscow Centre! August followed with a collaboration with PEN Canada, September with PEN Venezuela, October with Croatian PEN, and November with PEN Wales/Cymru.For our December writings our partner was Danish PEN, for the month of January it was Belarusian PEN.
We apologise that due to the global effect coronavirus outbreak we have been unable to find more PEN Centre’s to collaborate with. Thus, after ensuring publishing for our writers in 14 countries, able to meet readers in their respective languages, we are moving to explore different avenues of collaboration with PEN’s global network such as joint online events and writing collaborations.
In the meantime, we will continue to work to get the voices of our young writers amplified beyond Turkey by continuing to translate them to English and distribute among PEN networks.
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