Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Kenia's Wednesday Challenge

I begin my journey at dawn with my horse
As the large morning bird wakes.
I keep quiet, like a moon grown heavy.
Before me, rain of unknowable age, 
Flowers on the far side of a thousand years.
Last night, last night I saw in my dream
That I was sundered from my coal-eyes love.
I broadcast my passion on the night with my hands.
It snows for me in the mountains.
I swirl fog in with the autumn trees. (continue reading)


My dear toads! Has it been a month already?!  I'm glad to be back here to introduce you to another amazing  poet and I really hope you enjoy his works!

(image from Wikipedia)

Melih Cevdet Anday was best friends with Orhan Veli and Oktay Rifat (you remember them HERE, don't you?) since they were in high school, and together they wrote Garip (Strange) in 1941, a book that happened to be the mark of Garip movement, which was pretty much the Turkish literary surrealism, and would change the history of Turkish poetry forever.


The top part of this piece of writing
Couldn't be read; no one knows who wrote it either.
Never mind, what matters is the words, not the sound.

"...Then I ate whatever I found in the house:
"Bread, almonds, dill.
Barefoot I jumped on the horse,
The wine of the morning was raving mad
So I dashed through the people and went away
Full gallop."



I was going under a tree
It happened in a flash
I fell apart from myself
And became a poppy flower
Bending in the sun,
Tortoise shell, house of wedding
Delirious talk, bevy of names.
I turned into the petal that drags
The wind like a blind God,
I became the century.
A tiny moment like a bug.
I was going under a tree
I became a tree
That propels itself
And saw someone stuck in the ground.


The four of us were taken in the park,
Me, Orhan, Oktay, Şinasi too…
It seems to be autumn
Some of us in coats, some in jackets
The trees behind us are leafless…
Oktay’s father hasn’t yet died,
I don’t have a moustache,
Orhan hasn’t yet met Süleyman Efendi.

But I never was that gloomy;
What is it in this picture that recalls death?
Still, we’re all alive.


CHALLENGE: Today's challenge asks of you to borrow a line from a friend's poem and use it as inspiration to write a surrealist poem of your own. Link your poem below! Happy writing!

17 comments:

Janine Bollée said...

Interesting prompt for a very foggy morning.
thank you.
My post is short, with a pinch of Pynchon.

Janine Bollée said...

Just started reading these poems. Amazing, unsettling but intriguing. Thank you so much for leading me there.

Daydreamertoo said...

Enjoyed this prompt Kenia, thanks.

Kerry O'Connor said...

Surrealism is a genre I am much in awe of, and envy. I wish I could do it well, but I shall try my best.

Susan said...

Please accept this one for now because I like it though it is not quite surreal. It is hard for me to cut the logical connections--Maybe it would be surreal without the last stanza. I may try again later after I visit with Duchamp for awhile. Meanwhile, thank you, Kenia, for this challenge and for the poetry that accompanies it.

Sherry Blue Sky said...

This is an intriguing prompt and the poems I've read so far are spectacular. As most of my brain lives in Surreal, I will see what I can come up with:)

Unknown said...

This prompt, Kenia, set me to pondering!

Sherry Blue Sky said...

Patricia, I have tried several times but your site wont allow me to publish a comment. I enjoyed your poem and your photo. The leaves seem to get more beautiful every year, dont they?

Kerry O'Connor said...

I can't publish a comment on Patricia's site either, not for lack of trying.

Kay L. Davies said...

I was sure I couldn't do this, Kenia. Surrealism isn't easy for someone who considers herself a humorous essayist, but I did come up with something to post, and will return to comment on the others.
K

Margaret said...

Not sure how surreal my poem is... but I think I went with the theme in a way. Thanks and I can't wait to read everyone's attempt. But first, kids need to be tucked in and dishes done...

Ella said...

What a fun challenge! I hope I can weave one up for tomorrow~ :D

Susie Clevenger said...

I love the challenge. Since it is October I went dark with mine.

Unknown said...

Sherry, Kerry, Not sure why you are unable to leave a comment. Will check my settings for WordPress. Not sure if it makes a difference if you both use Blogger/Blogspot. Will check but thanks for the thoughts!

Hannah said...

Wow...I loved this...I don't know if I did it right but I had fun!! Thank you, Kenia for the challenge!!

Mary B. Mansfield said...

This was a whole lot of fun for sure! Think I'll be revisiting the surreal side again soon. Thanks for all the great info, Kenia!

Rick.Daddario said...

Aloha Kenia - i enjoyed this. coming from a visual arts background to writing the surrealist elements clicked with me in a visual way - and as i like image with words this was a lot of fun. i've linked up on the link widget. thank you. aloha.