Poetry | Attilâ İlhan “Tutuklunun Günlüğü / Prisoner’s Diary”

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Sanasaryan Han, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Istanbul

As the inaugural flagship of Luxury Collection property in Istanbul, the exquisite Sanasaryan Han, iconic neo-classic masterpiece, seamlessly blends the opulent grandeur of the Old Town's cultural heritage with sophisticated contemporary touch, meticulously curating an unparalleled and enchanting experience that epitomizes luxury. Embracing the city's rich cultural heritage, Sanasaryan Han has meticulously fashioned a vibrant district where the East harmoniously converges with the West, fostering an atmosphere of cultural exchange that kindles wonder and ignites inspiration within every discerning guest. Experience the ultimate culinary journey at Sini fine dining restaurant, where we artfully blend tradition with contemporary innovation, offering a symphony of opulent flavors that celebrate the richness of cultural heritage. Inspired by the great library, Sanasaryan invites you to learn and discover more of the multicultural influences of the Turkish culture at The Library Bar.

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The famous Sansaryan Inn became a 5-star hotel: Mıgırdiç Sanasaryan, who gave his name to the building, bought the land on which the building is located from Circassian İsmailpaşazade İhsan Bey in 1889 for 19,000 Ottoman gold coins.

Sanasaryan Inn was built by architect Hovsep Anzavuryan in 1895 to provide income for the Sanasaryan College, which Mıgırdiç Sanasaryan opened in 1881. Sanasaryan College in Erzurum also hosted the Erzurum Congress.

According to the land registry of 1909, it was stated that it was left to the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey, and if the patriarchate position was vacant, it was left to the deputy patriarch. The building was confiscated by the state between 1915 and 1920, and the right to use the building revenues was given to the patriarchate from 1920 to 1928. In 1928, the inn's revenues were confiscated by the İdare-i Husûsiye-i Vilayet. The lawsuit filed by the then Armenian Patriarch Naroyan was concluded in favor of the patriarchate in 1932. In 1935, İdare-î Husûsiye-î Vilayet seized the building again with a counter-suit.

The building was used by the Istanbul Police Department for a long time since 1935. While it was functioning as a Police Department, people detained here were tortured. Many names such as Deniz Gezmiş, Mihri Belli, Alparslan Türkeş, Aziz Nesin, Ruhi Su, Nihal Atsız were interrogated and tortured in this building.

 Attilâ İlhan[1] “Tutuklunun Günlüğü / Prisoner’s Diary”

In his second year at Istanbul University,  Attilâ İlhan went to Paris in order to take part in supporting Nazım Hikmet. His observations of the French and their culture were to influence many of his works.

After returning to Turkey, he repeatedly ran into trouble with the police. Interrogations in Sansaryan Han influenced his works based on death, thriller, etc.

This poem mentions Sansaryan Han

Translation by MAM / December 17, 2023

/ tuesday night /

a black ax found the point to hit in the evening

the cells are full, a whistle, the nearest maçka tram

who left this sad song to my loneliness

whose darkness is this who barred the door

only a human ties again the snapped ties to live

 

typewriters in interrogation rooms with blurred windows.

didn't they tease their freedom in the sansaryan inn

moldy water collects in copper color at a sprout .

maybe a thousand times you think about killing yourself.

it never crosses your mind to die before finishing the song.

for that wonderful exclamation you grow in your heart.

it's so disgraceful and ugly that they locked you up

are you a naked light bulb within four walls

what bulb/it is your youth that is extinguished

even if your eyes are poisoned, you consider crying a crime

 

invisible giant insects they are with magical antennas.

aircraft searchlights search false alarms in the sky

at tophane pier ships leave with painfully cries

evening covers the cells with rogue anger

you can crush the world you think if you deliver a single punch

 

/ salı aksamı /

 

kara bir balta buldu akşam vuracak noktayı

hücreler doldu bir ıslık en yakın maçka tramvayı

kim bırakmış yalnızlığıma bu hüzzâm şarkıyı

kimin bu karanlık kimler sürgülemişler kapıyı

insan olan bağlar her koptuğu yerden yaşamayı

 

daktilolar camları bulutlu sorgu odalarında

didiklemez mi özgürlüğünü sansaryan hanı’nda

küflenir suyun bir bakır çalığı birikir ağzında

kendini öldürmeyi belki bin kere tasarlarsın da

bir kere aklından geçmez bitirmeden ölmek şarkıyı

 

gönlünde büyüttüğün o müthiş ünlem içindir ki

seni kapattıkları öyle rezil o kadar çirkindir ki

çıplak bir lâmba mısın dört duvar içindeki

ne lâmbası/söndürülen bütün ilk gençliğindir ki

gözlerin zehirlense de suç sayarsın ağlamayı

 

görülmez dev böceklerdir sanki büyülü duyargalar

uçaksavar ışıldakları gökyüzünde bir yanlış arar

tophane rıhtımı’nda acı acı gemiler kalkar

hücreleri akşam olur haydut öfkeleri kaplar

ezerim sanırsın vurursan tek bir yumrukta dünyayı

 

tutanak 2

 

elektrik elletirler kıvılcım yalatırlar

tuzruhu damlatırlar kulak boşluğuna

çekip alınlar kerpetenle tırnaklarını

 

öğrenmek istedikleri aslında bildikleridir

geceleri rüyalarına girip uykularını kaçıran

insanın insanı soyduğu derisini yüzdüğü

 

duruşma arası

 

(o varsa kırılır buzlu camları kışın

anlamı yoğunlaşır anlamsız bir yaşayışın

gerçi farkındayız adı belirsiz bir yanlışın

acaba ben çok mu esmerim o çok mu sarışın

 

yansımaz oldu aydınlığı yüzüme haftalardır

yazdıklarında bile gizli bir uzaklık vardır

eylem bir dağıldı mı bütün boğazlar daralır

ben başka bir erkek olurum o başka bir kadın)

 

gereği düşünüldü

mahcup yaseminler son balkonların süsü

özgürlük özlemleridir genişletir gönlümüzü

savcılar ağır sürgünlerden yankılansa da

 

bir yer gelir ki artık ne savunma içgüdüsü

ne heyecandır kalır ne de yürek üzüntüsü

yalnız bir daktilo çıplak bir masada

 

toplumcularız karakollarda açtık gözümüzü

verirse halklar verir tarihte hükmümüzü

gizle de yargılansak 3.ağırceza’da

[1] Attilâ İlhan (15 June 1925 – 10 October 2005) was a Turkish poet, novelist, essayist, journalist and reviewer.