Karacaoğlan is a seventeenth century Turkish bard, a remarkable figure in the oral literature of Anatolia. Not much is known about his life except those inferred from his poems. He is famous for giving insight into the then-contemporary nomadic life, vividly capturing the beauty of nature, and most significantly the overflowing passion for love to an extent that he is known to be in love with love itself. I am interested in his poems that shed light on the idea of gallantry and those that reflect the ideals and characteristics of valiant heroes apotheosized in the seventeenth century Turkish culture.
Koşma 40 [On the Nature of Valiant Heroes]
Koşma 40
Yiğidin eyisini neden bileyim
Yüzü güleç kendi yaman olmalı
Kasavet serine çöktüğü zaman
Gönlünün gâmını alan olmalı
Benim sözüm yiğit olan yiğide
Yiğit olan muntazırdır öğüde
Ben yiğit isterim fırka dağıda
Yiğidin başında duman olmalı
Yiğit olan yiğit kurt gibi bakar
Düşmanı görünce ayağa kalkar
Kapar mızrağını meydana çıkar
Yiğidin ardında duran olmalı
Sâfi güzel olan, şol bazı kötü
Yiğidin densizi ey’olmaz zati
Gayet durgun ister silahı atı
Yiğit el çekmeyip viran olmalı
Karac’oğlan der ki çile çekilmez
Hozan tarlalara sümbül ekilmez
Sak yabancı ile başa çıkılmaz
İçinden sıdk ile yanan olmalı
(Kaynak / Reference source: Cahit Öztelli 1987:78)
Song 40
How shall I know the truly valiant one?
His face should smile, though he be fierce at heart.
When sorrow settles upon his brow,
There should be someone to ease his grief.
My word is for the valiant who are truly valiant,
For the one who heeds counsel.
I seek the one who can scatter armies,
Above the valiant one's head there should be smoke.
The truly valiant one glares like a wolf,
Rises when he sees the enemy,
Seizes his spear and strides into the field,
There should be someone to stand behind him.
Not all who are fair are good,
A valiant one without courtesy does no good.
Earnestly he asks for his weapon and horse,
He should rather burn out than fade away.
Karacaoğlan says, no one enjoys suffering.
No hyacinth is sown in fallow fields,
One cannot contend with a cunning stranger,
There should be someone whose heart burns with truth.
Translation: Hüseyin Alhas
There are various versions of this poem/song since it belongs to the oral tradition. The one used above belongs to Cahit Öztelli's compilation called Karaca Oğlan: His Life and Complete Poetry (Original: Karaca Oğlan: Yaşamı ve Bütün Şiirleri ), which was published by Özgür Yayın in 1987.
Ölüm ardıma düşüp de yorulma
Var git ölüm bir zaman da gene gel
Akıbet alırsın komazsın beni
Var git ölüm bir zaman da gene gel
Şöyle bir vakitler yiyip içerken
Yiyip içip yaylalarda gezerken
Gene mi geldin ben senden kaçarken
Var git ölüm bir zaman gene gel
Çıkıp boz kurtlayın ulaşamadım
Yalan dünya sana çıkışamadım
Eşimle dostumla buluşamadım
Var git ölüm bir zaman da gene gel
Karac'oğlan der ki derdim pek beter
Bahçede bülbüller şakıyıp öter
Anayı atayı dün aldın yeter
Var git ölüm bir zaman gene gel
Do not wear yourself out pursuing me, O Death,
Be gone, Death, and come again at some other time.
In the end you will take me, you will not leave me be,
Be gone, Death, and come again at some other time.
Once, when I was eating and drinking,
Eating, drinking, and roaming the high summer pastures,
Have you come again while I still flee from you?
Be gone, Death, and come again at some other time.
I set out with the grey wolves, yet I could not catch up with them,
O false world, I could not contend with you
I could not meet once more with my loved ones and companions,
Be gone, Death, and come again at some other time.
Karacaoğlan says, my sorrow is most grievous,
In the garden the nightingales are trilling and singing,
Yesterday you took the mother and the father, that is enough,
Be gone, Death, and come again at some other time.
Translation: Hüseyin Alhas