Tuesday, September 14, 2010

ABC Wednesday

I is for Istanbul


I am listening to Istanbul

I am listening to Istanbul, intent, my eyes closed
At first there is a gentle breeze
and the leaves on the trees
Softly sway,
Out there, far away,
The bells of the water carriers unceasingly ring,
I am listening to Istanbul, intent, my eyes closed.

I am listening to Istanbul, intent,  my eyes closed.
Then suddenly birds fly,
Flocks of birds, high up, with a hue and cry,
While the nets are drawn in the fishing grounds
And a woman's feet begin to dabble in the water.
I am listening to Istanbul, intent, my eyes closed.

Orhan Veli Kanik



For more interesting I's visit here, at ABC Wednesday with thanks to Mrs. Nesbit and her helpers.

21 comments:

Sylvia K said...

Terrific post for the I Day! Such a beautiful city and, of course, I love the video! Hope you have a great week!

Sylvia

photowannabe said...

Terrific video and thanks for sharing such an exotic place with us.

Kay L. Davies said...

Thank you for posting a link to the song!!
A friend's daughter is living in Istanbul and every time I think of it I think "not Constantinople" because of this song.
When I was a small child, my father loved to help me listen to music, by explaining things to me. He was a musician with a penchant for song titles.
When a Canadian quartet, the Four Lads, had the hit song "Istanbul" in 1953, Dad was thrilled. He told me all about the Greek name Byzantium, how the Roman emperor Constantine named the city Constantinople after himself, and about Turkey changing it to Istanbul "because it's nobody's business but the Turks'!"
Kay
Alberta, Canada

Cheryl said...

Lovely images and that poem was inspiring. Thanks for bringing us here on our I travels.

larkswing said...

I don't believe I have encountered images from Turkey before. Sadly, I guess I have not thought much about that distant land - thank you so much for the introduction - what wonderful building and what beautiful landscape. Now I am intrigued!

Leslie: said...

I'd love to visit such an exotic place. Really enjoyed this post.

Georgia said...

love the photo

Tumblewords: said...

A superb I post! Thank you!

Carver said...

Wonderful post about Istanbul. Great idea for the letter I.

Rajesh said...

Beautiful post with lovely words. The first shot is terrific.

Rune Eide said...

A beautiful photo to start it off, shot late (or early) in the day. It makes me want to go at once.

Roger Owen Green said...

HA! I mentioned Istanbul three weeks ago in my post about FORMER NAMES, even had a video of that song, but by They Might Be Giants. Your version came out the year I was born!

ROG, ABC Wednesday team

Reader Wil said...

Great post for the letter "I". You always have lovely surprises in the form of a video. This is a song I remember from the dim and distant past! Thank you.

jabblog said...

Wonderful!

Verns said...

Awesome place that connects to Asia ... first time to hear that song, great!

mrsnesbitt said...

Wow! What a fantastic collection to celebrate Istanbul.

Denise
ABC Team

Strawberry Jam Anne said...

Another inspired choice for the ABC meme. Loved the images and the poem. A x

Joy said...

What a vivid and evocative poem, it was almost like being taken to Istanbul.
Haven't heard that tune for years, very catchy.

Jay said...

It's funny, the first thing I thought when I saw the name 'Istanbul' was 'that used to be Constantinople'!

Such a fun song!

ChrisJ said...

Beautiful city indeed. My husband has been and loved it. I like the Four Lads' music. I remember the song and you know, I think I can hear a bit of a Liverpudlian accent there.
(Hubby is from Liverpool)

Nan said...

Do you read the Mrs. Pollifax books by Dorothy Gilman? The second in the series takes place in Istanbul. Every time I say the word, I think of the old song -'Istanbul,not Constantinople!'