Artık demir almak günü gelmişse zamandan,
Meçhule giden bir gemi kalkar bu limandan.
Hiç yolcusu yokmuş gibi sessizce alır yol;
Sallanmaz o kalkışta ne mendil ne de bir kol.
Rıhtımda kalanlar bu seyahatten elemli,
Günlerce siyah ufka bakar gözleri nemli.
Biçare gönüller! Ne giden son gemidir bu!
Hicranlı hayatın ne de son matemidir bu!
Dünyada sevilmiş ve seven nafile bekler;
Bilmez ki giden sevgililer dönmeyecekler.
Birçok gidenin her biri memnun ki yerinden,
Birçok seneler geçti; dönen yok seferinden.
Yahya Kemal Beyatlı
The Silent Ship
When the day comes to weigh anchor off this stand;
A vessel does leave this haven for a dark land.
As she sails silently as if numanned,
Not a hand nor a handkerchief is fanned.
Sorrowed with this trip are those on the quay
Wet-eyed they gaze at dim horizon dolefully.
Poor hearts! This is not the last ship departing;
Nor for the lonesome life is it the last sting:
In vain will the loving and beloved wait
For the return of those that passed the strait.
Happy must they have been with their set
Though years have elapsed, none's back as yet.
Yahya Kemal Beyatlı / Çeviri: Behlül Toygar
The Silent Cruiser
From Time when the day has come to weigh anchor
Destined for the Unknown, a cruiser departs of this harbor
It gathers its way silently as if with no souls who stand
This departure is bereft of waving good-bye or a hand
The quay harbors a desolate cruise for those left
Contemplating the dark horizon days long, eyes wet
Helpless Souls! This is not the last cruiser to depart
Nor is it the last mourning of a life with us to part
All loving and loved ones on earth will wait in vain
They know not the departed loves will never return
For many departed ones are content with their destiny
For many years have passed by and yet no sole returnee
Yahya Kemal Beyatlı / Çeviri: Oktay Eser
Silent Ship
If the day has arrived at last to weigh anchor from time,
A ship departs from this harbour towards an unknown clime.
As if it has no passengers, silently it makes way;
No hand is waved nor hankerchief as it sails away.
This journey is distress for those left behind on the quay,
Their tearful eyes scan the black horizons day after day.
Desperate hearts: This will neither be the last ship to go
Nor the final bereavement of a life filled with sorrow.
In this world, the beloved and the lover wait in vain
Not knowing that the loved ones will never come back again.
Those who sailed away are surely happy with their sojourn:
Years went by since that voyage, yet not one soul will return
