FOR YOU

For you,my brothers and sisters,
Everything is for you.
Night is for you,and day;
The light of day in the daytime,of the moon at night;
The leaves in the light of the moon;
The restlessnes of the leaves;
The wisdom of the leaves;
A thousand and one greens in the light of day;
The yellows,too,are for you,and for the pinks;
The feel of flesh against the palm of the hand,
The warmth of flesh,
Its softness;
The comfort of lying down;
Good mornings are for you;
For the masts swaying in the harbour,
The names of the days,
And the names of the months;
The paint on rowboats is for you;
For you the postman's feet,
The potter's hand.
The sweat that runs on forehands,
The bullets spent at the front;
For you the cemeteries,the tombstones,
The prisons,the handcuffs,the hangings;
For you,
Everything is for you.

ORHAN VELI KANIK