Poetry Magazine
five-story house in laleli
one lies in rags on the street
and his stomach is empty
and he wishes for death
one sits with friends at tea and backgammon
and his mind is empty
and he wishes for death
one sits in a straight-backed chair at a desk
and his bank account is empty
and he wishes for death
one lies in bed staring out to sea
and the place next to him in bed is empty
and he wishes for death
one flies back with food in its beak
and its nest is empty
and only this one says
we should give it another try
Source: Poetry (March 2010).
Biography
Gisela Kraft was born in Berlin and lived in Weimar, Germany. She is the author of several works of poetry and prose, and a notable translator of Turkish literature into German. In 2009, she was awarded the Christoph-Martin-Wieland-Übersetzer-preis for Namen der Sehnsucht, her translation of Turkish poet Nâzim
Hikmet.
Poems by Gisela Kraft
Poem Categorization
SUBJECT Living, Sorrow & Grieving, Social Commentaries, Life Choices
Poetic Terms Free Verse
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