GIFT WRAPPING
December, 2025
a week before New year's eve
a week before the prick of a needle
in each of my eyes
i am wrapping gifts to daughters
and to granddaughters
and before i receive a gift of an apne mask cushion from one of them
because I asked for it
and pecks
on cheeks
from all five
and hugs
perfunctory
not from a wish list nonexistent
it is easy to hurt an old body
a body with pains from a recent fall at night
and arthritis
and dark specks flying in the eye
almost an expert at delaying bladder needs night and day
daring the powers to act to punish my folly
I am gifting "Complete poems of Orhan Veli" to each daughter
thinking that they may understand misery, hopelessness and poverty
of a different kind in verses of a different kind of a different time
if they find and riffle through the pages of books and manuscripts of
poetry, even if they consider them defunct like those who wrote them.
And one day, someone will visit this abode, or live here snd feel the wings
and the brief puff of one or more poets passing through the doors.
ahmet cafer celebiler
not yet wrapping it up
December 22, 2025
