Why Was I Born a Poet? by Almas Ildirim (1907-1952) What else can I write about my country? Enemies spread poison and friends hide. I don't know why the poet who loves his country Is spied upon as a criminal? I didn't bar anybody's way and I wasn't a robber. I didn't disturb anybody's quiet life. I wasn't a bloody flower for my country, I didn't impose any death sentence on anybody Why am I a stranger in this foreign country, It's as if I'm surrounded by a prison and I'm suffocating. Why was I born to be a poet, In a cursed time and condemned land? Translated by Aytan Aliyeva Back to - Almas Ildirim Index Home | About Azeri | Learn Azeri | Arabic Script | Contact us © Azerbaijan International. Copyright 2003. All rights reserved.