I SAW MY HAND

Drinking water, I saw my hand ,
pink, hollowed and lihgtly downed.
I said _ hello there , hand, hello!
Hold glass and fork and pen
and when the time comes
don't hesitate
to hold the sword and gun.
Stand firm, my hero, my lion - hearted friend.

Drinking water, I saw my hand,
speechless and dry
like Ahmet's hand or Mehmet's.
Hello, I said, hello you busy hands,
that make trains run , I said,
and electricity work.
You topple mountains,
bring water to the dams,
equip the earth from end to end,
make green the human race.

Drinking water, I saw my hand,
no eyes and ears, alive,
his fine blueweins,
the thumb with pleasure bent,
forefinger nicely crooked,
ring - finger inexplicable,
and the little one in a world of its own

Oktay Rıfat