Cat Scarf—Arasta Bazaar by Joan Leotta Under the awning, in the Arasta Bazaar we pawed through the display in front of the silk shop— dozens of soft, splendid scarves shimmied in the breeze calling to our eyes and fingers. I spied among them, a silken swath replete with feline images. My daughter draped it overContinue reading “Cat Scarf—Arasta Bazaar by Joan Leotta”
Category Archives: Turkey
Julene Tripp Weaver, Finding a Fal Café in Istanbul
Finding a Fal Café in Istanbulby Julene Tripp Weaver We drink healing sherbets—small aperitif drinks servedin shot glasses before a meal,between courses—a palate cleanser.Recipes from the Ottoman dynasty,fruit or flower petals: corneliancherry, grapes, roses, red poppy sherbets.We try Turkish coffee,Continue reading “Julene Tripp Weaver, Finding a Fal Café in Istanbul”
Apple Tea in a Fairy Chimney by Margaret Duda
Apple Tea in a Fairy Chimney by Margaret Duda I feel the strength of my husband’s hand As he leads me up the uneven steps Carved into the side of a fairy chimney In the Göreme Valley of Cappadocia. We enter a sand-colored room chiseled in tuff, Settle close on a stone ledge covered withContinue reading “Apple Tea in a Fairy Chimney by Margaret Duda”
The Turkish Bee by Laurel Trivelpiece
The Turkish Bee by Laurel Trivelpiece Like a furry screw a Turkish bee hovers Above our café table. Is he here: to plug up holes made by blind gods waving sieves? to celebrate this basket of fresh bread, balanced on a pinpoint of time rushing by? —to unwind his reality, one quick capsule, riding hisContinue reading “The Turkish Bee by Laurel Trivelpiece”
James Sutherland-Smith, A Snail in Istanbul
A Snail in Istanbulby James Sutherland-Smith The sultan of moisture creepsOn a flagstone shadowed by nettles.He carries his turban on his backAnd shows his tentacles, a scholarBareheaded out of the mosque.No doubt his hidden mouth is primThough his tongue, rough with hungerNot prayer, will rasp on greenery:One foot, one lung, one kidney,One gonad, mostly male,Continue reading “James Sutherland-Smith, A Snail in Istanbul”
Istanbul by Ümit Yaşar Oğuzcan
Istanbul by Ümit Yaşar Oğuzcan A room in the house, Istanbul in the room A mirror in the room, Istanbul in the mirror The man lit his cigarette, an Istanbul smoke The woman opened her purse, Istanbul in the purse The child cast a fishing line, I saw, And he started to draw it, IstanbulContinue reading “Istanbul by Ümit Yaşar Oğuzcan”
That autumn was abundant by Marjorie Agosín
That autumn was abundant by Marjorie Agosín Translated by Jacqueline Nanfito That autumn was abundant In Istanbul the ancient and platinum Women with their faces covered and discovered My grandfather arrived on foot to this Ottoman city From the desolate Sebastopol and from other burned villages, From the bloody snow. He spoke about its minaretsContinue reading “That autumn was abundant by Marjorie Agosín”
POETRY and PLACES 