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 (A poem 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 would I know the truly valiant one?
He should be merry, yet also imposing.
When his head is shadowed with sorrow,
There should be someone to lighten his heart.
I speak to the truly valiant one,
The one who heeds advices.
I look for the one who can rout an army,
Against all odds should stand the valiant one.
The truly valiant one glares like a wolf,
Rises when he sees the enemy,
Grasps his spear and rushes to battlefield,
There should be someone to stand behind him.
Not all who are beautiful 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.
Karac’oğlan says no one enjoys suffering.
No hyacinth is sown in fallow fields,
Cunning strangers are hard to handle,
There should be someone with a heart beating for 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.