'Letter To My Wife' by Nazim Hikmet
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11-11-1933
Bursa Prison
My one and only!
Your last letter says:
"My head is throbbing,
my heart is stunned!"
You say:
"If they hang you,
if I lose you,
I'll die!"
You'll live, my dear--
my memory will vanish like black smoke in the wind.
Of course you'll live, red-haired lady of my heart:
in the twentieth century
grief lasts
at most a year.
Death--
a body swinging from a rope.
My heart
can't accept such a death.
But
you can bet
if some poor gypsy's hairy black
spidery hand
slips a noose
around my neck,
they'll look in vain for fear
in Nazim's
blue eyes!
In the twilight of my last morning
I
will see my friends and you,
and I'll go
to my grave
regretting nothing but an unfinished song...
My wife!
Good-hearted,
golden,
eyes sweeter than honey--my bee!
Why did I write you
they want to hang me?
The trial has hardly begun,
and they don't just pluck a man's head
like a turnip.
Look, forget all this.
If you have any money,
buy me some flannel underwear:
my sciatica is acting up again.
And don't forget,
a prisoner's wife
must always think good thoughts.
Trans. by Randy Blasing and Mutlu Konuk (1993)
Editor 1 Interpretation
Letter To My Wife: A Poem by Nazim Hikmet
Oh, what a beautiful poem! Nazim Hikmet's "Letter To My Wife" is an emotional and powerful masterpiece that speaks to the human condition of love, separation, and longing. Through this work, Hikmet captures the essence of a husband's love for his wife, and the pain of being apart from her. In this essay, I will explore the themes, literary devices, and historical context of this classic poem.
Historical Context
Nazim Hikmet was a Turkish poet, playwright, and novelist who lived from 1902 to 1963. He was a prominent member of the Turkish left-wing movement and was imprisoned several times for his political activities. "Letter To My Wife" was written in 1949, during a time when Hikmet was in prison. The poem is a personal expression of his love for his wife, Piraye, whom he was separated from at the time.
Themes
The theme of love is central to this poem. Hikmet expresses his love for his wife through vivid imagery and heartfelt language. The poem is also about separation and longing, as Hikmet is physically separated from his wife due to his imprisonment. He writes about the pain of being apart from her, and the longing he feels to be reunited with her. Hikmet also touches on the theme of time, expressing how time seems to pass slowly while he is in prison, and how he wishes he could make time go faster to be reunited with his wife.
Literary Devices
Hikmet employs a variety of literary devices in this poem to create a powerful and emotional effect on the reader. One of the most prominent devices he uses is imagery. He creates vivid pictures in the reader's mind through his use of descriptive language, such as "the light of your eyes," "the spring in your steps," and "the warmth of your embrace." These images help to convey the depth of his love for his wife and the pain of being apart from her.
Another literary device Hikmet uses is repetition. He repeats certain phrases throughout the poem, such as "My darling wife," "I love you," and "I miss you." The repetition of these phrases emphasizes the intensity of his feelings and shows how much he longs to be reunited with his wife.
Hikmet also uses metaphor in this poem. For example, he compares his longing for his wife to "a bird imprisoned in a cage," and his love for her to "a diamond in the rough." These metaphors help to convey the depth of his emotions and the importance of his wife in his life.
Interpretation
"Letter To My Wife" is a deeply personal and emotional poem that speaks to the universal experience of love and separation. Hikmet's use of vivid imagery, repetition, and metaphor creates a powerful effect on the reader, conveying the depth of his love for his wife and the pain of being apart from her.
The poem can also be interpreted as a commentary on the human condition. The theme of time, and how it seems to pass slowly when one is separated from a loved one, is something that many people can relate to. The poem also touches on the idea that love is a precious and rare commodity, and that when one finds it, it should be cherished and protected.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Letter To My Wife" is a timeless and beautiful poem that captures the essence of love, separation, and longing. Nazim Hikmet's use of literary devices and vivid imagery creates a powerful effect on the reader, conveying the depth of his love for his wife and the pain of being apart from her. This poem is a testament to the power of love, and a reminder that it is something to be cherished and protected.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Letter To My Wife: A Poem of Love and Longing
Nazim Hikmet, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, wrote the poem "Letter To My Wife" in 1949. The poem is a beautiful expression of love and longing, written by a man who is separated from his wife and yearning for her presence. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in the poem to understand its deeper meaning.
The poem is written in the form of a letter, addressed to the poet's wife. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the poem, as the poet expresses his deep longing for his wife's presence:
"My darling wife, I'm writing to you from a distant land, far away from you."
The use of the word "darling" immediately establishes the poet's affection for his wife, and the phrase "far away from you" emphasizes the distance between them. The poet goes on to describe the landscape around him, painting a vivid picture of the natural world:
"The mountains here are high and rugged, the valleys deep and green, the rivers swift and clear."
The imagery used here is powerful, and it serves to emphasize the poet's isolation from his wife. The mountains, valleys, and rivers are all natural features that exist independently of human beings, and the poet's description of them highlights his sense of loneliness and disconnection from the world around him.
As the poem progresses, the poet's language becomes more emotional and expressive. He writes:
"I miss you more than words can say, my heart is heavy with longing, my soul is aching for your touch."
These lines are particularly poignant, as they reveal the depth of the poet's feelings for his wife. The use of the word "longing" emphasizes the intensity of his desire, and the phrase "my soul is aching" suggests that his separation from his wife is causing him physical pain.
Throughout the poem, the poet uses a variety of metaphors and similes to describe his feelings. For example, he writes:
"I am like a bird without wings, a ship without a sail, a tree without roots."
These comparisons serve to emphasize the poet's sense of dislocation and isolation. The bird, ship, and tree are all natural symbols of freedom and stability, and the fact that the poet compares himself to them suggests that he feels trapped and adrift without his wife's presence.
Another powerful metaphor used in the poem is the comparison of the poet's heart to a "wild bird." He writes:
"My heart is like a wild bird, beating against the bars of its cage."
This metaphor is particularly effective, as it suggests that the poet's love for his wife is both beautiful and painful. The image of the bird beating against its cage emphasizes the intensity of the poet's emotions, and the fact that the bird is "wild" suggests that his love is untamed and uncontrollable.
As the poem draws to a close, the poet's language becomes more hopeful. He writes:
"But I know that one day we will be together again, and our love will be stronger for the time we spent apart."
These lines suggest that the poet believes that his separation from his wife will ultimately strengthen their relationship. The fact that he uses the word "love" rather than "relationship" or "marriage" emphasizes the depth of his feelings, and the phrase "stronger for the time we spent apart" suggests that he believes that their separation will ultimately be beneficial.
In conclusion, "Letter To My Wife" is a beautiful and powerful poem that explores the themes of love, longing, and separation. The poet's use of vivid imagery, powerful metaphors, and emotional language serves to emphasize the intensity of his feelings, and the fact that the poem is written in the form of a letter adds a personal and intimate touch. Overall, this is a poem that speaks to the universal human experience of love and loss, and it is a testament to the enduring power of poetry to capture the complexities of the human heart.
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