'A Spring Piece Left In The Middle' by Nazim Hikmet
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Taut, thick fingers punch
the teeth of my typewriter.
Three words are down on paper
in capitals:
SPRING
SPRING
SPRING...
And me -- poet, proofreader,
the man who's forced to read
two thousand bad lines
every day
for two liras--
why,
since spring
has come, am I
still sitting here
like a ragged
black chair?
My head puts on its cap by itself,
I fly out of the printer's,
I'm on the street.
The lead dirt of the composing room
on my face,
seventy-five cents in my pocket.
SPRING IN THE AIR...
In the barbershops
they're powdering
the sallow cheeks
of the pariah of Publishers Row.
And in the store windows
three-color bookcovers
flash like sunstruck mirrors.
But me,
I don't have even a book of ABC's
that lives on this street
and carries my name on its door!
But what the hell...
I don't look back,
the lead dirt of the composing room
on my face,
seventy-five cents in my pocket,
SPRING IN THE AIR...
*
The piece got left in the middle.
It rained and swamped the lines.
But oh! what I would have written...
The starving writer sitting on his three-thousand-page
three-volume manuscript
wouldn't stare at the window of the kebab joint
but with his shining eyes would take
the Armenian bookseller's dark plump daughter by storm...
The sea would start smelling sweet.
Spring would rear up
like a sweating red mare
and, leaping onto its bare back,
I'd ride it
into the water.
Then
my typewriter would follow me
every step of the way.
I'd say:
"Oh, don't do it!
Leave me alone for an hour..."
then
my head-my hair failing out--
would shout into the distance:
"I AM IN LOVE..."
*
I'm twenty-seven,
she's seventeen.
"Blind Cupid,
lame Cupid,
both blind and lame Cupid
said, Love this girl,"
I was going to write;
I couldn't say it
but still can!
But if
it rained,
if the lines I wrote got swamped,
if I have twenty-five cents left in my pocket,
what the hell...
Hey, spring is here spring is here spring
spring is here!
My blood is budding inside me!
20 and 21 April 1929
Trans. by Randy Blasing and Mutlu Konuk (1993)
Editor 1 Interpretation
A Spring Piece Left In The Middle: A Masterpiece by Nazim Hikmet
When it comes to modern poetry, Nazim Hikmet is one of the most influential and celebrated poets of the 20th century. He is regarded as the father of modern Turkish poetry and his works have been translated into more than fifty languages. Among his numerous poems, "A Spring Piece Left In The Middle" stands out as a masterpiece that showcases Hikmet's poetic brilliance and his deep understanding of human emotions.
Overview of the Poem
"A Spring Piece Left In The Middle" is a short poem that consists of twelve lines. It was written in 1940 in Istanbul, Turkey, during Hikmet's exile from his homeland. The poem is divided into three stanzas, with each stanza consisting of four lines.
The poem is written in free verse and lacks any specific rhyme or meter. It is a vivid description of spring and its various aspects, such as the blooming flowers, the buzzing bees, and the warm breeze. However, the poem goes beyond just the description of the physical elements of spring and delves into the emotional landscape of the poet.
Themes and Interpretation
At first glance, "A Spring Piece Left In The Middle" appears to be a simple poem about the arrival of spring. However, a deeper analysis of the poem reveals that it is a complex and multi-layered work that explores several themes.
The Transience of Life
One of the central themes of the poem is the transience of life. Hikmet uses the imagery of spring to highlight the fleeting nature of life and its beauty. The blooming flowers, which are a symbol of life, are described as "little miracles" that are "born and die in a single day." The buzzing bees, which are a symbol of productivity and activity, are also portrayed as transient and fleeting.
The poem also suggests that life is a constant cycle of birth and death. The flowers are described as "little miracles that come and go." The phrase "come and go" implies that life is a continuous process of birth and death, with no end or beginning.
The Power of Nature
Another key theme of the poem is the power of nature. Hikmet portrays nature as a force that is larger than human beings and that can never be fully understood or tamed. The blooming flowers and the buzzing bees are described as natural phenomena that cannot be controlled or manipulated by human beings.
The warm breeze is also portrayed as a force that is beyond human control. The phrase "the warm breeze melts the ice" suggests that nature has the power to transform and change things that seem permanent and unchangeable.
The Beauty of Ordinary Life
The poem also celebrates the beauty of ordinary life. Hikmet uses the imagery of spring to highlight the beauty that can be found in everyday life. The blooming flowers, the buzzing bees, and the warm breeze are all ordinary elements of spring that are often overlooked by people. However, Hikmet suggests that these ordinary elements are what make life beautiful.
The poem also suggests that life is beautiful because of its impermanence. The fact that the flowers bloom and die in a single day makes them more precious and valuable. The same can be said about life, which is precious because it is fleeting and impermanent.
The Emotions of the Poet
Finally, the poem explores the emotions of the poet. Hikmet uses the imagery of spring to express his own emotions and feelings. The poem is a reflection of the poet's own experiences of exile and separation from his homeland.
The phrase "spring has come, but I have not seen it" suggests that the poet feels disconnected from the world around him. He is physically present in the world, but emotionally disconnected from it. The blooming flowers and the buzzing bees are described as "little miracles" that the poet cannot fully appreciate because of his emotional state.
The poem also suggests that the poet is struggling to find meaning and purpose in his life. The phrase "I don't know what to do with this life" suggests that the poet is lost and uncertain about his future. However, the poem ends on a hopeful note, with the phrase "maybe I'll become a travelling bird" suggesting that the poet is open to new possibilities and experiences.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "A Spring Piece Left In The Middle" is a masterpiece of modern poetry that explores several themes and emotions. It is a vivid and poignant portrayal of spring and its various aspects, but it goes beyond just the physical description of spring and delves into the emotional landscape of the poet. The poem celebrates the beauty of ordinary life, explores the transience of life, and highlights the power of nature. It is a work that is not only beautiful but also deeply philosophical and thought-provoking.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
A Spring Piece Left In The Middle: A Poem of Hope and Renewal
Nazim Hikmet, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, wrote a beautiful poem titled "A Spring Piece Left In The Middle." This poem is a masterpiece that captures the essence of spring and the hope and renewal that it brings. In this article, we will analyze and explain this classic poem in detail.
The poem begins with the line, "Spring has come, that's why I'm leaving." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem. Spring is a time of new beginnings, and the speaker is leaving behind the old and embracing the new. The speaker is filled with hope and optimism, and this is reflected in the rest of the poem.
The second stanza of the poem describes the beauty of spring. The speaker talks about the flowers that are blooming and the birds that are singing. The imagery in this stanza is vivid and colorful, and it paints a picture of a world that is alive and vibrant. The speaker is in awe of the beauty of spring, and this is evident in the way that he describes it.
In the third stanza, the speaker talks about the changes that spring brings. He talks about how the snow melts and the rivers flow again. This is a metaphor for the changes that occur in our lives. Just as the snow melts and the rivers flow again, we too can experience a renewal in our lives. The speaker is encouraging us to embrace the changes that come with spring and to see them as an opportunity for growth and renewal.
The fourth stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful. The speaker talks about how he is leaving behind the old and embracing the new. He talks about how he is leaving behind the darkness and the pain and moving towards the light. This is a metaphor for the struggles that we all face in life. The speaker is encouraging us to leave behind our past and to embrace the future with hope and optimism.
The fifth stanza of the poem is a call to action. The speaker is urging us to take action and to make the most of the opportunities that spring brings. He is encouraging us to be proactive and to take control of our lives. This is a powerful message, and it is one that we should all take to heart.
The final stanza of the poem is a beautiful conclusion to this masterpiece. The speaker talks about how he is leaving behind a spring piece in the middle. This is a metaphor for the legacy that we leave behind. The speaker is encouraging us to leave behind something beautiful and meaningful that will inspire others long after we are gone.
In conclusion, "A Spring Piece Left In The Middle" is a beautiful poem that captures the essence of spring and the hope and renewal that it brings. The poem is a call to action, urging us to embrace the changes that come with spring and to see them as an opportunity for growth and renewal. The poem is a reminder that we should leave behind something beautiful and meaningful that will inspire others long after we are gone. This poem is a masterpiece, and it is one that should be read and appreciated by all.
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