LITERATURE PROJECT
The link to the full project: I took on this project because I've always loved writing and reading. The first time I discovered that was when I was in middle school. Our teacher had asked to describe autumn and when I read it to the class everyone was so impressed. That's when I decided that I would continue along with literature as long as I can. When I saw that I could take a yearly project in literature I obviously jumped at the opportunity. Firstly, my teacher recommended to me some poets who were not very known. After looking through their poems, I found a poet I deeply resonated with. I always loved literature, especially poetry. I wrote a detailed analysis of 2 of her poems and talked about how they affected me. Her poems had a whimsical, beautiful tone to them. As an extra addition to the project, I asked my teacher if I could write my own poems inspired by that poet. I wrote two poems closely related to hers in style and theme, and I believe thanks to this project, my poetry writing has improved and took a new, more abstract direction. I write in the school newspaper, and I feel like I became brave enough to try this new style of poetry.
Poem 1:
-Annem sessiz çığlığımı duyan tek kişi
Görünmeyen yaralarımın tek merhemi
Bin yıl hiçbir şeyi olmasa annemin
Yine de esirgemez kendini
-Annem
kaldırımın arasından çıkan papatya
Köklendiği
yeri daima koruyan beyaz
Gün
geçtikçe ezilse de benliği
Biliyorum
bırakıp gitmeyecek
Hayat
verdiği o yeri
Translation:
-My mom is the only one who hears my silent scream
To my wounds, she is the only healing cream
Even if she didn't have a thing for a thousand years
She still wouldn't hold herself back
-My mom is the daisy blooming from the sidewalk
The whiteness protecting the place she sprung
Even if her sense of self is walked on each day
I know she won't go away
From the place she gave life to
Poem 2:
Mutluluk
apartman boşluğunda kayıp
Ruhu
eskiyor sokaktaki yalnız kemancının
Bir
kişi bile duymadı şarkısını
Kalplerine
sığdıramadılar notalarını
Bu
kadar sığ artık göller
Ayak
parmaklarım bile ıslanmıyor
Usul
usul yağan yağmur da olmasa
Yaşadığımı
dahi bilmeyeceğim
Nerede
o turuncu çocuk sesi
Evleri
dolduran pembe kahkahalar
Rüzgârın
yeşilliğini ne zaman kaybettik
Donuk
griliğimize
Translation:
Happiness is lost in an apartment hall
The soul of the lonely violinist in the street is getting old
Not one person heard his song
Their hearts couldn't take his notes
Lakes are so shallow now that
Not even the tips of my toes are getting wet
If it weren't for the slight rain
I wouldn't even know I am alive
Where is the orange sound of children
Pink laughter filling homes
When did we lose the green of the wind
To our dull gray
Not only that but also my teacher wrote me an email saying how much she enjoyed reading my analyses and the poems I wrote. It was an honor to be complimented on a work I diligently worked on, and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it.
Translation:
My dear Elif, we had the chance to speak with you about your project but I wanted to write to you as well. This is a very high-level project for 9th grade. Not only did you manage to analyze the language and technique of a poet's poems who relies on deep imagery but it is apparent that you also felt the emotions of the poems too. That may be the highest point one can reach in analyzing poetry. You understood and felt what the poet was trying to convey, what more can there be? You also added your own poems, there is nothing more to be said.
You are amazing dear, you are not only a great literature student but also a great literature interpreter. I am proud of you, I wonder what you will produce until you graduate if this is what you are producing now. Your grade is obviously 100 but in my eyes, it is even more precious than that.
See you,
Enjoy your holiday.
