Posts in "Poem translation"

Let Sayragul sing!

Aziz Isa Elkun

About the poem:
this poem is dedicated to the courageous Sayragul Sauytbay, an ethnic Kazakh from East Turkistan. She was arrested in May 2018, after crossing into Kazakhstan illegally, and in a court hearing, she gave testimony about the re-education camps in East Turkistan (Xinjiang). She has bravely spoken to the outside world about China’s “Concentration Camps.” 

When it was written:
On 1 August 2018, after arriving at Almaty airport from London, the first good news I heard was Sayragul Sauytbay’s release from detention after the Zharkent court hearing. 

Sayragul, let the Kazakh girl sing – sing, Sayragul
Sayragul, let her sing for her country – sing, Sayragul
Sayragul, let her sing for justice – sing, Sayragul
Sayragul, never stop her song – sing, Sayragul!

You are a voice for the voiceless – sing, Sayragul
You are a freedom fighter – sing, Sayragul
You are an envoy for freedom – sing, Sayragul
You hover like an eagle – sing, Sayragul!

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Before – ئالدىدا

Nimshehit
نىمشېھىت  Nimshehit
Translated by Aziz Isa Elkun


ۋەسلىدىن ئۆزگە كېرەكمەس ماڭا جانان ئالدىدا 
ئارزۇيۇم سەن ئېرۇرسەن تەن بىلەن جان ئالدىدا 
بىرگۈلى رەنا ئېرۇرسەن باغۇ بوستان ئالدىدا 
تا زىيارەت قىلـمىسام مەن سېنى ئىمكان ئالدىدا 
يۈزلۈرۈم شەرمەندە بولسۇن تاڭلا سۇبھان ئالدىدا

I need nothing except only the love of my beloved
You are the greatest hope of my soul and body
You are the finest rose in a land of gardens
I would visit you if only I had the chance
Let my face be shamed before the glory of the dawn

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Desire for Spring

Abdurehim Ötkur
translated by Aziz Isa Elkun

The moth in the candle flame
Burns itself bravely
For your beautiful face my love
I would sacrifice myself. 

Once you came with a smile
The flower garden was filled with your love
Where have these days gone
Now I have become a wanderer. 

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