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Nazım Hikmet (1902- 1963) is considered to be one of the best Turkish modern poets. His poems still stay relevant and meaningful in today's troubled Turkey. He is a socialist who has fought religious fascism and ignorance his all life. He is considered to be one of greatest poets of the 20th century. His ideas still continue to effect oppressed countries in need for the light of modernity and liberty. Here is a poem that I chose by Nazım Hikmet.
TRAITOR REFLECTION
TRAITOR
“Nazim Hikmet is still continuing to be a traitor, We are a half-colony of American imperialism, said Hikmet. Nazim Hikmet is still continuing to be a traitor.” This came out in one of the Ankara newspapers, Over three columns, in a pitch-black screaming streamer. In an Ankara newspaper, beside a photograph of Admiral Williamson, smiling in 66 square centimeters, his mouth in his ears, the American admiral. America gave 120 million lira to our budget, 120 million lira. “We are a half-colony of American imperialism, said Hikmet. Nazim Hikmet is still continuing to be a traitor.” Yes, I am a traitor, if you are a patriot, if you are a defender of our homeland, I am a traitor to my homeland, I am a traitor to my country. If patriotism is your farms, if the valuables in your safes and your bank accounts is patriotism, if patriotism is dying from hunger by the side of the road, if patriotism is trembling in the cold like a cur and shivering from malaria in the summer, if sucking our scarlet blood in your factories is patriotism, if patriotism is the claws of your village lords, if patriotism is the catechism, if patriotism is the police club, if your allocations and your salaries are patriotism, if patriotism is American bases, American bombs, and American missiles, if patriotism is not escaping from our stinking black-minded ignorance, then I am a traitor. Write it over three columns, in a pitch-black screaming streamer, Nazim Hikmet is continuing to be a traitor, STILL! |
This is a great poem by Nazım Hikmet explaining what he stands for. Nazım Hikmet was oppresed by the government all his life. He went into jail, several times I might add, he was exiled and he was obliged to face any obstacles that the rulership made sure was there for him. In this poem Nazım Hikmet is saying that he is againts all those who show themselves as country-loving patriots while they actually suck the life out of the country like a tick. Nazım Hikmet is also complaining about our 3rd world country going under the will of the United States of America for financial and political reasons. Nazım Hikmet was a socialist who always put his country before him. He is disgusted to see that he is considered a traitor while the country is being selled for budget helps. He is disgusted to see that the financial needs and properties of people or held before the sake of the homeland. He is disgusted that these so called patriots are actually greedy, deceiving people just looking to fill their pockets. He is concered that the country is ignorant and is slowly beings asimilated by America. He is saying that he would take on the title traitor if these people are called patriots who are selling the country. In my opinion, this one of the best works of Nazım Hikmet, just screaming the truth about our world today. Small nations being leaded by big powers that want to depersonalize and use them. In this poem, Nazım Hikmet is fighting for the independence of his country in face of American imperialism.
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