The Turtle Of Hanoi (Hoan Kiem Turtle) Poem by Ulas Basar Gezgin

Hoan Kiem turtle, the turtle of Hanoi,
If he would live for another 120 years,
If the fate would not disrupt life.

There is a lake in the belly of Hanoi
He would continue to live in waters silently
If there would not be those calling him from the other world.

The legends would be continued about him,
About him, about his dad, about his granddad,
If fate would not take him out of us.

By taking the sword he brought from the bottom of the lake,
The brave people expelled the enemy, it was told that.
What would happen if he wouldn't leave us like this...

When he was born, Vietnam was under occupation.
He grew up, Vietnam was under occupation.
What would happen if he would give us the sword again...

While he was growing, the struggle for freedom grew as well,
By the elderly passing over the red flag to the young ones,
The turtle lake sword was in their hands.

He was patient, with slow but firm steps.
He became a role model for Vietnamese warriors.
Just like him they carried a shell of patience on their back.

It was not for ten years nor twenty years, they fought for thirty years.
It was not a million nor two millions but three millions, that was the number of dead.
He was still in the lake, but always mourning, always mourning.

One day the war was over and nobody could believe that.
The turtle smiled at last and raised his head on water.
His wing-like arms danced and danced joyfully.

We got even more joyful, we got aware of the arrival of peace, only after we looked at him.
We would just be constructing beautifully from zero, all those destroyed by the occupiers.
We would see him more often, we would see his joyfully dancing arms more often.

We had famine, but we were happy, we had hunger, but we were happy.
Wasn't it the case that the war was over? That was why we were hopeful.
The war had hardened us as hard as his shell, but then everybody finally had a free breath.

We built the country again with independence and freedom.
We nurtured a new generation with the words of Uncle Ho.
While all these were happening, he was always with us.

Today, he left. He left, for other lands, people say that his last words were these:
"Now you have a happy, independent country, thus you don't need me anymore".
Now we know where he left us for, his heart is in the lands that are still in war.

Hoan Kiem turtle, the turtle of Hanoi,
If he would live for another 120 years,
If the fate would not disrupt life.
But we know he is still alive, we know he is alive,
Even if he is further from us.


December 2016