Turkish-American poet K. Kamal Ayyildiz wanders the streets of Istanbul searching for the clues to his Turkish identity. And as he wanders he listens to the songs these districts sing to him. These are the lullabies of his father and his father’s people and the melodies that course through his being. His nineteen poems arrest us with their evocative language and we, the reader, identify with the poet as we also find the unique essence of our own inner selves. "The Cistern" has been nominated by the Virginia Library Association for Best Poetry by a Virginia Author 2004.
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
K. Kamal Ayyildiz is a young and gifted Turkish-American poet whose evocations of the sights and sounds of Istanbul in his lilting American rhythms can best be characterized as heartwarming. His exquisite poems convey to us not only his captivating impressions of that history-laden, romantic, bustling metropolis but also the fascinating, sometimes touching, portrayals of the Ayyildiz family. Like Istanbul which links Europe and Asia, Kamal Ayyildiz straddles his Turkish background and American persona. His aesthetic approach spurs excitement and sensuality and his diction never wavers from the authentic American vernacular. The Cistern vibrates with feeling, nostalgia, discovery, affirmation and hope. One revels in the poet's enthusiasm and empathy. (Prof. Dr. Talat Halman, Chairman of Department )
This collection reminds me of a sketch for Nazim Hikmet's Human Landscapes (Memleketimden Insan Manzaralari). In this case, the poet is the son of an expatriate who returns to the old country, discovering the human landscapes in scattered quarters of contemporary Istanbul. His poetic explorations make us witnesses to his rebirth and rite of passage through these new acquaintances. (Alev Lytle Croutier, author )
This collection reminds me of a sketch for Nazim Hikmet's Human Landscapes (Memleketimden Insan Manzaralari). In this case, the poet is the son of an expatriate who returns to the old country, discovering the human landscapes in scattered quarters of contemporary Istanbul. His poetic explorations make us witnesses to his rebirth and rite of passage through these new acquaintances. (Alev Lytle Croutier, author )
About the Author
K. Kamal Ayyildiz is a Turkish-American poet and photographer living between New York and Istanbul. He has been the recipient of fellowships from the MacDowell Colony, the Edward Albee Foundation and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
|
There are no customer reviews yet.
|
|||
|
Video reviews
|
Inside This Book
(learn more)
First Sentence:
Swish. Can you hear the paddles? Read the first page New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Front Flap | First Pages | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Swish. Can you hear the paddles? Read the first page New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Front Flap | First Pages | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items. |
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
