A Poem by Tevfik Fikret

Editor’s note: This poem was written during the Young Turk Revolution of 1908. Notice as you read the stubborn mist and other images very much like the poisons of Monsanto and Dow Chemical spread across Viet Nam many years later.

Once more a stubborn mist has swathed your horizon…
A dusty, foursome darkness, which the eye
Takes care not to pierce, for it is afraid.
But for you this deep, dark veil is right and fitting.
This veiling becomes you well, O scene of evil deeds…
Yes, veil yourself, O tragedy, veil yourself, O city,
Veil yourself and sleep forever, whore of the world!

Another editor’s note: Monsanto and Dow Chemical—“whore of the world!” for all of their evil deeds.