DEATH AND POST-DEATH IN THE POETRY OF AHMED ARIF

Abstract

The great Turkish poet Ahmed Arif is considered one of the important poets in Turkish literature in the 20th century. He was born in Diyar Bakr on 23rd of April 1923 and died on 2nd of June 1991 in Ankara. Through his life that lasted for 68 years, he published one book about poetry. It was considered the best book to be published in Turkey which makes him different from any other poet. Death as a fact and part of our nature is considered the end of life. The separation of the soul from the body is inevitable. It is impossible that a man can be born again after his death. Hence, there was a great discussion about the nature of our life and the existence of death throughout the whole history of human beings. Specifically, the scientists, philosophers, and thinkers, made scientific activities over humanity and death and what would happen after it. The poets are among the groups who express their opinion concerning this subject arousing different new point of views in their comments and thoughts. The nature of the poem is to think differently and explain it differently too resorting to symbolic language. Hence, the exposition of the beliefs difficult to be understood through poetry and literature create a genuine overflow of thoughts. Ahmed Arif is one of the well-known poets by his valuable thoughts in this subject. I decide to introduce a detailed explanation about life of the great Turkish poet Ahmed Arif as well as his literary orientation and poem. Among his poems, we introduce some information about death and life after death through which I browse all the poems by Ahmed Arif who is considered one of the important poets in Turkish literature in the 20th century. Key words: Ahmed Arif, Turkish Literature, Death, Death and Beyond.