Icebreaker

Ahead of us the icebreaker;

we shuddering behind in our craft.

I look out from my porthole:

solid white the sea.

Istanbul is my home—

the sea is salt warmth to me.

Everything’s clear and distinct to us.

Our fields of poppies,

thoroughfares,

arcades,

pigeons,

and the vivaciousness of our sea.

It’s blue-green,

livelier than a nor’easter

quicker than a porpoise.

At high noon in summertime

when nothing moves not a leaf,

it moves,

forever

aquiver.

We smell it always.

I look out from my porthole:

solid

white

the sea.

I look,

overcome.

Nazim Hikmet
tr. after Konuk & Blasing