TEMPORA MUTANTUR Poem by Behçet Necatigil

I've seen years flying like birds
I've seen my end in a handful of earth
I loved, as all young do
The leaf was bound to the tree.

O friend! interpret my dream with favour
Don't begrudge this to your Behçet!
Carried away by its flavour
O love! in both realms be blessed!

Farewell my ill-starred study nights
All the books have closed
Blow south-westerly blow
Let my soul still billow.

Along these paths to the wasteland
Majnun too went they say
I am not the way I used to be
Times changed I say.