“We are Listening to Istanbul”

I am listening to Istanbul, intent, my eyes closed;

At first there blows a gentle breeze

And the leaves on the trees

Softly flutter or sway;

Out there, far away,

The bells of water carriers incessantly ring;

I am listening to Istanbul, intent, my eyes closed.

It has been 77 years since Orhan Veli listened to Istanbul and wrote these lines. So when we listen to Istanbul in 2024, what sounds come to our ears, what do our eyes see, what flavors remain on our palate? Our Grade 9 students wrote their own Istanbul poems in the footsteps of Orhan Veli by listening to the city they live in within the scope of the poetry unit of the Turkish language and literature course. In their poems, they covered topics such as the changing face of Istanbul, the sounds, and the fascinating beauty despite all the negativities, and exhibited their beautiful poems by creating an Orhan Veli corner in the classroom. Through this work, they nurtured their creativity, increased their sensitivity to the city they live in and tasted the power of writing.