Hürriyet Kasidesi (Namık Kemal)
1. Görüp ahkâm-ı asrı münharif sıdk u selâmetten
Çekildik izzet ü ikbâl ile bâb-ı Hükûmet’ten
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2. Usanmaz kendini insan bilenler halka hizmetten
Mürüvvet-mend olan mazlûma el çekmez iânetten
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3. Hakir olduysa millet, şanına noksan gelir sanma
Yere düşmekle cevher sâkıt olmaz kadr ü kıymetten
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4. Vücûdun kim hamîr-i mâyesi hâk-i vatandandır
Ne gam râh-ı vatanda hâk olursa cevr ü mihnetten
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5. Mûini zâlimin dünyâda erbâb-ı denâ’ettir
Köpekdir zevk alan sayyâd-ı bî-insâfa hizmetten
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6. Hemân bir feyz-i bâkî terkeder bir zevk-i fâniye
Hayâtın kadrini âli bilenler hüsn-i şöhretten
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7. Nedendir halkta tûl-i hayâta bunca rağbetler
Nedir insana bilmem menfaat hıfz-ı emânetten
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8. Cihânda kendini her ferdden alçak görür ol kim
Utanmaz kendi nefsinden de âr eyler melâmetten
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9. Felekden intikâm almak demektir ehl-i idrake
Edip tezyîd-i gayret müstefîd olmak nedâmetten
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10. Durur ahkâm-ı nusret ittihâd-ı kalb-i millettde
Çıkar âsâr-ı rahmet ihtilâf-ı re’y-i ümmetten
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11. Eder tedvîr-i âlem bir mekînin kuvve-i azmi
Cihân titrer sebât-ı pây-ı erbâb-ı metânetten
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12. Kazâ her feyzini her lutfunu bir vakt için saklar
Fütûr etme sakın milletdeki zâ’f u betâetten
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13. Değildir şîr-i der-zencîre töhmet acz-i akdâmı
Felekte baht utansın bî-nâsib erbâb-ı himmetten
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14. Ziya dûr ise evc-i rif’âtinden ıztırârîdir
Hicâb etsün tabiat yerde kalmış kabiliyetten
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15. Biz ol nesl-i kerîm-i dûde-i Osmâniyânız kim
Muhammerdir ser-â-pâ mâyemiz hûn-ı şehâdetten
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16. Biz ol âlî-himem erbâb-ı cidd ü içtihâdız kim
Cihân-girâne bir devlet çıkardık bir aşiretden
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17. Biz ol ulvî nihâdânız ki meydân-ı hamiyetde
Bize hâk-i mezâr ehven gelir hâk-i mezelletten
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18. Ne gam pür-âteş-i hevl olsa da gavgâ-yı hürriyet
Kaçar mı merd olan bir cân için meydân-ı gayretten
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19. Kemend-i can-güdâzı ejder-i kahr olsa cellâdın
Müreccahdır yine bin kerre zencîr-i esâretten
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20. Felek her türlü esbâb-ı cefâsın toplasın gelsin
Dönersem kahpeyim millet yolunda bir azimetten
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21. Anılsın mesleğimde çektiğim cevr ü meşakkatler
Ki ednâ zevki a’lâdır vezâretten sadâretden
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22. Vatan bir bî-vefâ nâzende-i tannâze dönmüş kim
Ayırmaz sâdıkân-ı aşkını âlâm-ı gurbetten
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23. Müberrâyım recâ vü havfden, indimde âlîdir
Vazifem menfaatten hakkım agrâz-ı hükûmetden
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24. Civân-merdân-ı milletle hazer gavgadan ey bidâd
Erir şemşîr-i zulmün âteş-i hûn-i hamiyetten
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25. Ne mümkün zulm ile bî-dâd ile imhâ-yı hürriyet
Çalış idraki kaldır muktedirsen âdemiyetten
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26. Gönülde cevher-i elmâsa benzer cevher-i gayret
Ezilmez şiddet-i tazyikten te’sîr-i sikletden
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27. Ne efsûnkâr imişsin âh ey didâr-ı hürriyet
Esîr-i aşkın olduk gerçi kurtulduk esâretten
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28. Senindir şimdi cezb-i kalbe kudret setr-i hüsn etme
Cemâlin tâ ebed dür olmasın enzâr-ı ümmetden
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29. Ne yâr-ı cân imişsin âh ey ümmîd-i istikbâl
Cihânı sensin âzâd eyleyen bin ye’s ü mihnetden
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30. Senindir devr-i devlet hükmünü dünyâya infâz et
Hüdâ ikbâlini hıfz eylesin her türlü âfetten
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31. Kilâb-ı zulme kaldı gezdiğin nâzende sahrâlar
Uyan ey yâreli şîr-i jeyân bu hâb-ı gafletden
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NAMIK KEMAL
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ENGLISH
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1. We withdrew from the door of Government with dignity and honor,\
Having observed the truths of the age with purity and integrity.
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2. Those who know themselves never tire of serving the people;\
They do not withdraw their kindness from the oppressed.
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3. Do not think that if a nation is looked down upon, it loses its glory;\
A precious gem does not lose its value by falling to the ground.
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4. Your existence is made of the soil of the homeland;\
So, why worry if your body becomes soil on the path of the homeland through hardship and distress?
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5. The supporters of the oppressor in this world are those of lowly nature;\
They are like dogs who take pleasure in serving the unjust hunter.
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6. A pure grace, when left for a fleeting pleasure,\
Is abandoned by those who know the worth of life and appreciate the beauty of reputation.
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7. Why is there such a desire among the people for a long life?\
What does man seek—and perhaps I don’t know—by preserving the trust of interests?
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8. In the world, see yourself as lower than every individual;\
Do not be ashamed of your own self, nor be embarrassed by the blame.
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9. Taking revenge from fate means for the wise;\
Adding more effort, and being privy to remorse.
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10. The decrees of victory abide in the unity of the nation’s heart;\
The effects of mercy arise from the disagreements of public opinion.
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11. Govern the world with a strong will;\
The world trembles at the steadfastness of the strong who possess nobility.
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12. Destiny preserves its grace and its beneficence for a time;\
Do not lose heart for the weakness and cowardice within the nation.
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13. The lion bound in chains does not indict the weakness of the feet;\
May fate be ashamed of the unworthy possessors of will.
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14. If the light is distant, it is a sign of the elevation of greatness;\
Nature should be ashamed of its remaining capabilities on the ground.
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15. We are that noble lineage of the Ottoman blood,\
Our essence is soaked in the blood of martyrdom.
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16. We are those high-minded individuals of seriousness and diligence,\
Who produced a world-conquering state from a tribe.
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17. We are the sublime founders who, in the arena of honor,\
Find soil of the grave easier than the soil of humiliation.
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18. Why fear the burning fire of strife for freedom?\
Does a true man flee from the arena of effort for a soul?
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19. Even if the dragon of wrath is the executioner’s rope,\
A thousand times it’s preferable to the chains of captivity.
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20. May fate gather all the means of torment and come forth;\
If I turn back, let me be the one to perish for the sake of the nation.
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21. Let my struggles and hardships be remembered in my profession;\
For the slightest pleasure surpasses the joys of office and authority.
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22. The homeland has turned into an unfaithful stranger;\
It does not separate those loyal in love from the banners of exile.
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23. I am pure from fear and hope; my task is high;\
My right is against the government’s betrayals.
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24. Beware of strife with the gallant youth of the nation;\
The sword of oppression is burned by the fire of passionate honor.
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25. It is impossible to destroy freedom through tyranny and injustice;\
Strive to elevate consciousness if you are capable of humanity.
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26. In the heart, the gem of effort resembles the diamond;\
It does not succumb to pressure or the effects of weight.
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27. O how powerful you are, O visage of freedom!\
Though we became captives of love, we have indeed escaped from slavery.
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28. Now, your charm captures my heart; do not cover your beauty;\
May your beauty endure until eternity, free of the people’s eyes.
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29. O how precious you are, O hope of the future!\
You free the world from a thousand fears and struggles.
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30. Your reign of power should be proclaimed to the world;\
May God protect your fortune from every calamity.
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31. The desert you walk through has turned into the beasts of tyranny;\
Awaken, O you who have suffered, from this drowsiness of heedlessness.more