Thirty-Three Bullets (Otuzüç Kurşun -- Ahmed Arif, Zulfu Livaneli)

Lyrics are based on a poem by Ahmed Arif (20th c.), one of the greatest poets of Turkey, and definitely the greatest Kurdish master of Turkish language in poetry. Many of Arif's poems have been put to music by various musicians including Cem Karaca, Fikret Kizilok, Ahmet Kaya, and Zulfu Livaneli. For a fuller list, please see this Wikipedia page.

The poem is a remembrance of the unlawful execution of 33 persons in 1943, especially of the children who were among the killed.

This translation is based on the original adaption by O. Zulfu livaneli of one repeating stanza of the poem "Otuzüç Kurşun" (literally, Thirty-Three Bullets). I added another based on two other stanzas, which seems to fit the music composed by Livaneli. Here is this piece (must bear the intro):

• O. Zulfu Livaneli: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cym5z_tjXlE (Do you hear the gun shot sounds?)

The last line of the first stanza could also read like this: "In my mouth which is torn to pieces." It is impossible to determine which version the poet intended.

I had trouble deciding on what kind of visuals to use. The event on which the poet based his lamentation is so horrible that any direct graphical reference would have been too graphic. Then, again, this was not an isolated case in time or place. Such and much more abominable crimes had and have been, and, are happening at any time or place on this hate-ridden planet of ours. And, almost invariably, directly or indirectly, children are placed at the center of the sufferings. Thus, I decided to use these photographs: from two different times, from two distant places.

The first photograph belongs to Merl La Voy (or, Mryl LaVoy), early 20th century photographer, filmmaker, and traveler. He is considered an early pioneer in news photography, and is likened to Marco Polo for his extensive travels. The photograph above was probably taken during his visit to Balkans and Turkey.

The second photograph has a very tragic story: that of the photographer Kevin Carter. His suicide note tells of a man deprived of everything: from money to hope. It is filled with anguish, disgust, and anger. And, enters the Pulitzer prize. Who gives a ... !

Below is the part of the poem parts of which were translated (bold lines). Here is the whole of it (112 lines).

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Vurulmuşum

Dağların kuytuluk bir boğazında

Vakitlerden bir sabah namazında

Yatarım

Kanlı, upuzun...

Vurulmuşum

Düşüm, gecelerden kara

Bir hayra yoranım çıkmaz

Canım alırlar ecelsiz

Sığdıramam kitaplara

Şifre buyurmuş bir paşa

Vurulmuşum hiç sorgusuz, yargısız

Kirvem, hallarımı aynı böyle yaz

Rivayet sanılır belki

Gül memeler değil

Domdom kurşunu

Paramparça ağzımdaki...

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