Poet and writer (b. 1931,
Erzincan – d. 9 January 1990, İstanbul). His real name was Cemalettin Seber but
he never used it in his works. Some of the pen names that he used were Adil
Fırat, Ali Fakir, Birsen Sağanak, Dr. Suat Hüseyin, Hasan Basri, Genco Gümrah,
Osman Mazlum and Suna Gün. He graduated from Haydarpaşa High School (1950) and
Ankara University, Faculty of Political Sciences, Department of Public Finance
(1954). He worked as an assistant inspector and inspector at the Ministry of Finance.
After an interval, he resumed his office as an inspector in 1971. He retired as
an advisor in the Finance Inspectorate in 1982. Between 1975-76, he served as a
member of the Financial Inspection Board, Director of the Mint. In 1978, he
became a member of the Ministry of Culture consultative board. After his
retirement, he worked as an advisor at publishing houses and editor for
encyclopedias; he also worked as a translator. He was married several times. He
had a daughter named Ayça from his first wife Seniha Nemli, and a son named
Memo from his third wife Zühal Tekkanat (Elif Sorgun). His other wives were
Güngör Demiray and Birsen Sağnak (last wife).
The first poem of Cemal
Süreya, who was one of the pioneers of the movement called the Second New, was
published in the review Mülkiye (January, 1953). His later poems,
critiques and essays were published in reviews such as Yeditepe,
Şairler Yaprağı, Evrim, Pazar Postası, Papirüs,
Yeni Dergi, Türkiye Yazıları (on which he also worked as an editor
for a short time), Hürriyet Gösteri and 2000’e Doğru. He
published the review Papirüs periodically (1960-61: 4 volumes; June 1966
– May 1970: 47 volumes; 1980-81: 2 volumes). Besides this, he coordinated the
cultural and arts sections of the reviews Oluşum, Türkiye Yazıları,
Maliye Yazıları and Saçak. He worked as a columnist for the
newspapers Politika, Aydınlık, Yeni Ulus and for the
reviews Yazko Somut and 2000’e Doğru. He won the Yeditepe Poetry
Award with his first book Üvercinka (Uvercinka, 1958), and the Turkish Language
Association Poetry Award in 1966 with his second book Göçebe (Nomad,
1965), and he collected the 1988 Behçet Necatigil Poetry Award with his books Güz
Bitiği (Autumn’s Wane) and Sıcak Nal (Warm Horseshoe). Some
of his books were published posthumously. A poetry award has been held in his
name since 9 January 1990.
WORKS:
POETRY: Üvercinka
(Uvercinka, 1958), Göçebe (Nomad, 1965), Beni Öp Sonra Doğur Beni (Kiss
Me Then Give Birth to Me, 1973), Sevda Sözleri (Words of Endearment,
poems in his first three books with some additions, 1984; new edition with
poems which were not previously published in other books, 1990), Güz Bitiği
(Autumn’s Wan, 1988), Sıcak Nal (Warm Horseshoe, 1988).
ESSAY: Şapkam Dolu Çiçekle (My Hat’s Full of Flowers, 1976), Günübirlik
(Overnight, 1982), Onüç Günün Mektupları (Letters of Thirteen
Days, letters to his wife, 1990), 99 Yüz (99 Faces - projections,
1991), 999. Gün / Üstü Kalsın (999th Day / Keep the Change, 1991), Folklor
Şiire Düşman (Folklore is the Enemy of Poetry, 1992), Uzat Saçlarını
Frigya (Grow Your Hair Long, Phrygia - separate edition from Günübirlik,
1992), Aydınlık Yazıları / Paçal (Articles of Illumination, articles
published in newspapers and reviews, 1992), Oluşum’da Cemal Süreya (Cemal
Süreya in Oluşum, 1992), Papirüs’ten Başyazılar (Editorials on Papirüs, 1992), Günler (Days,
general edition of 999. Gün, 1996), Güvercin Curnatası (Pigeons’
Rosemary - conversations with Cemal Süreya, edited by Nursel Duruel, 1997), Soluğundan
Öptüm Seni (I Kissed You on Your Breath - collection by Ülkü Tamer, 2003).
ANTHOLOGY:
Mülkiyeli Şairler (Poets of Civil Society, 1966), 100 Aşk Şiiri (100
Poems of Love, 1967).
CHILDREN’S LITERATURE: Aritmetik İyi Kuşlar Pek İyi (Arithmetic
Good, Birds Very Good- childhood memories, edited by Necati Güngör, 1993).
His
collected works have been printed by Yapı Kredi Publications. Books published
in this series are: Yürek ki Paramparça (Heart, Shattered - translated
poems, 1995), Günler (Days, 1996), Güvercin Curnatası (Pigeons’
Rosemary - conversations with Cemal Süreya, 1997), Toplu Yazılar I / Şapkam
Dolu Çiçekle ve Şiir Üzerine Yazılar (All Articles I / My Hat’s Full of
Flowers and Articles on Poetry, 2000), Sevda Sözleri / Bütün Şiirleri
(Words of Endearment / All Poems, 2000).
