Şeyhimin İlleri [English translation]

My Sheikh's province1

The roads to it are long

The roses of it, are open

Who will come to collect them, Ya Hu2?! 2x

(I love) The essence of my Sheikh

I love his sayings

(and) His sacred face

Who will come to see it, Ya Hu?! 2x

In the land of my Sheikh

He has a cane in his hand

To be at the sheikh's path

Who will come to it, Ya Hu?! 2x

For my Sheikh's candle

I'm like a moth

The lovers are like a knell

Who will come to burn, Ya Hu?! 2x

Loyalties and promises

Delights and Pleasure

The hardships on this road

Who will come to bear them, Ya Hu?! 2x

Tears with sighs

The ones who are on the same as Yunus3

The poisonous food,

Who will come to dine, Ya Hu?! 2x

1. homeland2. "Ya Hu" or "Ya Huw" [from Arabic: يا هو] - literally "o Him!". The Arabic word meaning "Him" is often used in Islam (especially in Sufi tradition) for God. Like the Qur'anic words: "La ilaha illa Huw" (لا إله إلا هو) - literally "There is no god but Him!" - which appears many times in the Qur'an. However, in modern Turkish, it's also often just used as an interjection - like "oh!" or "hey!". (read more)3. "Yunus Emre" [Ottoman Turkish: يونس أمره] = Ottoman Poet from the 13th century. (read more)

• Artist:Sami Özer