II. Turkey

I am writing a series called "World Vision" where I address a poem to each place that I've visited.

Your spicy bizarre

And crisp geometric air

Swept me into understanding-

Asia on one side

Europe on the other. 

I spun on the dock

As the boat hurtled

In the wrinkle between two worlds

With my arms outstretched

Not particularly hoping

To catch something profound. 

I return with a smile, some trinkets

A marriage proposal, a sunburn

And a door to the rest of the world. 

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

"a smile" is good.

"a marriage proposal" very good

"a sunburn" not good, and i hope it wasn't too much sun that everything good that happened was an illusion.

i like the arms outstretched but not particularly hoping to catch something....you were just embracing the beautiful sight of being in the wrinkle.

this one got me there.

nicely done.

[Dana Alsamsam]

thank you so much! i think it was just a light, pleasant sunburn if i remember correctly! the more traumatic portion was the marriage proposal...from a random store clerk who wanted a ticket to america haha! thanks for your review!

[Astro]

Sounds like it was definitely a defining moment of your life. I've been to Europe, but never Turkey. Like Jacob said, if you came back smiling that makes it a good experience for sure.

[BL]

Quite a unique way of putting things, like the continental aspect.

[Clockwork]

I really like how you portrayed the in between position of the country. That last line really emphasizes that feeling. The lines about not trying to catch anything profound made me smile because in the end, you collected that wide mix of things, and the gateway to new insight.

After a few reads, the sensory experience of this poem is still as vivid as the first time. You have the scent of the spice bazaar, the spinning on the dock as the boat hustles by. I really like that aspect of this one. It makes me feel as if I have taken a trip without leaving my living room.

Thank you for sharing, I enjoyed you're work as always!

[Dana Alsamsam]

thank you so much! my favorite thing about turkey was really trying to wrap my head around the fact that i could cross between continents in a few steps... and i appreciate your words as always :)

[Clockwork]

You're welcome :-) did someone really propose to you while you where there? That happened to a friend of mine when she was in Egypt.

[Dana Alsamsam]

yes its happened multiple times actually! in middle eastern countries since i'm arab but i look very, well, not arab haha i'm their ultimate woman/ticket to america... it's kind of funny!

[Archangel Gabriel]

Simply a lovely poem!......

[kublakhan27]

It sounds like Turkey was more eventful than the Dells...geometric air blew me away (no pun intended haha) in the context of the piece, it was a perfect image to set the scene...it's not often that a writer declares no interest in finding something profound, especially in a poem itself, but it's a great snippet of irony to counter the vividness of the rest of the piece...it goes on to feel profound in light of one's journey to find one's self...nicely done Dana :)

[Dana Alsamsam]

thank you so much! at the time that i traveled here i did not even minutely understand how incredibly lucky i was to travel to these amazing places. i really didn't know that there was anything profound to encounter! but like i say in the poem- turkey gave me a door to the rest of the world. thank you so much!

[kublakhan27]

I'd love to go somewhere exotic like that sometime, experience a new environment and scenery...I'm sure it would do wonders for my writing as well haha Always a pleasure Dana :)

[Richard]

You have a great imagination and I love your anthologies .. I think this series is a great idea :)
have you been to Turkey? I've always wanted to go

[Dana Alsamsam]

yes i have in fact been there and loved it! turkey was the first place i went that made me realize how much i love traveling. thank you so much and i hope you continue with me on my worldly journey :)

[Richard]

That's amazing :) you should do a worldlu journey based on countries named after foods ..
I definitely admire the idea though that you're trying ... and I have not been anywhere cool like that, but I think Venice Italy was the one that made me feel like travelling is really what matters in this life :)

[Dana Alsamsam]

ahh italy is insanely beautiful! there will be a poem about italy at some point :)

[Richard]

oh it was beautiful :) I didn't write a poem about it ... but I took lots of nice photos but I sold my camera since ... it's so sad

[Dana Alsamsam]

i hope that the images never fade from your memories!

[Richard]

I'm sure they won't :) thank you

[Traci]

"I return with a smile, some trinkets
A marriage proposal, a sunburn
And a door to the rest of the world."

I feel as if I have just entered the lovely world of Dana and am on a trip around the world. Such beautiful imagery. Great job, my friend.

[Dana Alsamsam]

turkey is what began my appreciation for travel! i hope you continue with me on the journey :)

[Traci]

I most definitely will, then i will decide where to book my next vacation :)

[Tomahawk Joe]

A very artful way of putting your expectations into words

[Pete Langley]

A place I need to visit. The busy-ness and diversity of culture and history make Constantinople a must for me. Your misnomer "bizarre" drew me in to your piece, Dana....and I loved the way you made your reflection personal. P.

[Dana Alsamsam]

i would definitely recommend it as a travel destination! i hope to return there some day. thank you!

[Rob Ert]

Turkey is an ephemeral nation. Barbaryans will come and depart untraced, but if you want your beautious poem to prevail. Change the word Turkey into something else...

[Dana Alsamsam]

i'm afraid i don't understand what you mean by change the word turkey into something else?

[Rob Ert]

At some point, you will...