Poet and writer
(b. 11 April 1920, Ankara – d. 14 September 1998, İstanbul). He was a graduate
of Ankara High School. He started in journalism after studying at Ankara
University, Faculty of Language, History and Geography for three years. With
his friends he published the newspaper Battal
Gazi (1945-48). He worked at the Turkish News Agency and Demokrat Ankara newspaper (1950-53).
After working as the Ankara correspondent for the journals and newspapers Yeni İstanbul (1953-60), Vatan and Ant (1961-67), he
ran a tavern (Kalem Meyhanesi- The
Tavern of the Pen, 1967-69). Later, he moved to İstanbul and worked as an
interviewer at Yeni Gazete and as an
anecdote writer for Akşam, Barış and Cumhuriyet newspapers.
His first poem appeared in Gençlik Dergisi (İstanbul, 10 January
1942). His first poetry book Birinci
Kilometre (The First Kilometer, 1945) was confiscated. Apart form the
journals and newspapers he worked in, his articles were published in the
magazines Kaynak, Seçilmiş Hikâyeler, his
own publication Meydan (only one
issue, Ankara, 15 May, 1948), and Yeryüzü,
Yeditepe, Dost, Türk Dili, Yansıma, and
Sanat Olayı. Apart form his poetry books and novels, he wrote various
anecdotes and memoirs. His memoirs are more significant than his novels. He won
the Lions Literature Award with
his poetry book Söz Gibi (Like a
Promise) in 1978.
WORKS:
POETRY: Birinci Kilometre (The First Kilometer, 1945), Dünya Güzel Olmalı (The World Should be Nice, 1954), Söz
Gibi (Like a Promise, 1977, extended edition, 1982), Öğle Rakıları (Raki Drunk at Noon,
1986), Tükenmez (Endless, all his
poems, 1990).
NOVEL: Sürgün Alayı (Exile Regiment, 1974), Pulsuz Tavla (Backgammon Without Playing
Pieces, 1976), Kalenin Eteğinde (At
the Foot of the Mountain, with Backgammon Without Playing Pieces, 1984).