Writers & poets
Orhan Veli Kanık
The poet who brought everyday speech into Turkish verse.
The Turkish name
Orhan Veli Kanık
Recording on its way.
The story
With Oktay Rifat and Melih Cevdet Anday, Orhan Veli launched the Garip movement in 1941, throwing out rhyme, metre and grand language in favour of the words of the street. His poems are short, funny and tender.
İstanbul'u dinliyorum, gözlerim kapalı, "I am listening to İstanbul, my eyes closed", is among the most loved lines in the language. He died at only thirty-six.
At a glance
- Born
- 13 April 1914, İstanbul
- Died
- 14 November 1950, İstanbul
- Movement
- Garip, 1941