Ascolto Istanbul, ad occhi chiusi

Abitare, the Italian Architecture and Design magazine published a special issue recently, a monogram on Istanbul. All articles are bilingual in Italian/English. Highly recommended May 2007 issue.

Mavi Boncuk |
Here is the 4th stanza of a famous poem with the Italian translation from "Yali' article in Abitare.

İstanbul'u dinliyorum, gözlerim kapalı
Başımda eski alemlerin sarhoşluğu
Los kayıkhaneleriyle bir yalı
Dinmiş lodosların uğultusu içinde
İstanbul'u dinliyorum, gözlerim kapalı

I am listening to Istanbul , intent, my eyes closed;
A seaside mansion with dinghy boathouses is fast asleep,
Amid the din and drone of sourthernwinds, reposed,
I am listening to Istanbul, intent, my eyes closed;

English translation by T. S. Halman

Ascolto Istanbul, ad occhi chiusi; [...]
Una Yali con le sue cupe darsene,
Nel ricordo l’ebbrezza delle feste di un tempo,
Dentro il respiro dei quietati venti di scirocco
Ascolto Istanbul, ad occhi chiusi [...]

Orhan Veli, 1 June 1947
Italian translation by Baran Ciagà