AUTUMN MELODY

Lycée girls were crossing the avenue
The book of civil law I gently closed tight
It was about an exam, money, a label
I lit a cigarette out of spite.

For example, I said, this world
Spins and spins in a void
This rain, this beastly September rain
Drives a fellow completely insane
Ok, but people, people
What notion do they serve

I thought and thought touched to the heart

Seconds, moments, hours and soon
The days flow like water, my brother
On one hand the text-book, my heart on the other
I didn't know what to do


Ataol Behramoglu
Translation by Walter Andrews