Turkish Encounter Song

When I see your sultan at dawn,
I said are you sultan? He said no-no.
Her eyes are bright, her hands are hennaed,
I said are you Çolpan? He said no-no.
I said what’s your name? Said Ayhan,
Where is your homeland in Didim? He said Turpan,
I said at the head? He said it is hijra,
I said are you a fan? He said no-no.
I said it’s like the moon, said my face?
I said like a star, said my eye?
I said it shines, did I say my word?
I said are you volcano? He said no-no.
I said what is goodness? He said is my eyebrow,
I said what is a beaver? He said it’s my hair
I said what is fifteen? He said is my age
I said can you? He said no-no.
I said what is the sea? My heart said,
I said what is consent? He said,
I said what is sugar? He said my tongue
I said give it to my mouth? He said no-no.
I said I have a chain around my neck, he said,
I said there is death, he said on my way,
I said bracelet? He said on my arm,
I said are you afraid? He said no-no.
I said why can’t you be afraid? God said,
I said what else? I have people said,
I said no more? He said I have a soul,
I said are you satisfied? That didi is not-there.
I said what is the request? He said my rose,
I said war? He said my way is
I said what is Ötkür? He said my servant,
I said would you sell it? That didi is not-there.
Abdukerim Ötkür …
March 8, 1948 Urumqi