Orhan Veli Kanık

Orhan Veli Kanık (1914–1950) was born in İstanbul and became one of the most decisive voices of modern Turkish poetry. At a time when poetry was still shaped by Ottoman literary habits, he chose to write in plain, spoken Turkish and to focus on daily life rather than elevated themes.

With Melih Cevdet Anday and Oktay Rifat, he led the Garip movement. This was not only a change of style but an act of courage. In the 1940s, poetry was expected to be refined, formal, and distant from ordinary life. Orhan Veli openly challenged this idea and placed workers, streets, small objects, and unnoticed people at the center of poetry. His work questioned who poetry was for and who had the right to speak.

İstanbul is not just a setting in his poems but a way of seeing the world. He wrote from street level, focusing on ferries, docks, tea glasses, and people without names. The city appears through sound, movement, and brief encounters, making the poems feel close to everyday life rather than history or monuments.

In his later years, Orhan Veli founded and edited the literary magazine Yaprak. This was his final major project and was created under difficult conditions. Yaprak became a space for new voices and ideas, reflecting both urgency and commitment during the last period of his life.

In 1950, he died at the age of 36 after falling into an uncovered municipal pit in Ankara. What first seemed like a minor accident turned serious days later, and he passed away in İstanbul from a brain hemorrhage. His sudden death ended a short but intense life shaped by constant writing, movement, and artistic risk.

His poems did not stay only on the page. Many of them were set to music by well-known Turkish artists. Zülfü Livaneli turned İstanbul'u Dinliyorum into a song. Ahmet Kaya recorded Macera. Different singers gave their own versions of Anlatamıyorum. His poems are also a standard part of Turkish school education. They appear in classrooms, on stages, and in daily conversation, more than seventy years after they were written.

Books

Garip (1941)

This book openly challenged traditional poetry rules. Its tone is playful, ironic, and deliberately simple. The poems often feel humorous and unexpected, speaking directly from everyday life.

Vazgeçemediğim (1945)

This collection turns inward and becomes more emotional. Love, loneliness, and quiet personal moments come forward. The voice feels softer and more intimate.

Destan Gibi (1946)

Memory and the past play a stronger role in this book. The poems often carry a nostalgic feeling without using grand language. The tone is reflective and human.

Yenisi (1947)

This book focuses on short forms and brief observations. Many poems feel like passing thoughts or quick scenes. The reading experience is light but attentive.

Karşı (1949)

In this collection, the tone becomes sharper and more direct. Social awareness is stronger, and the poems take a clearer stance. The voice feels more openly engaged with the world.