ON THE STREET WITH THE TRAMWAY FROM TAKSIM SQUARE
IT SEEMS THERE ARE MUSICIANS BUSKING EVERYWHERE
HALFWAY ALONG THE RAILS NEAR THE ADA BOOKSHOP BAR
FIFTEEN TURKISH FOLK SINGERS SING SONGS FROM ANKARA
THE SWEETEST SONG THAT NIGHT CAME NOT FROM ANY TONGUE
BUT FROM THE DULCET FINGERS OF SOME HIPPY WITH HIS HANG
ON A CARPET COVERED CUSHION OF YELLOW BLUE AND GREEN
THE HANG RESTED ON HIS KNEES LIKE AN UPTURNED SOUP TUREEN
A CROWD OF PEOPLE GATHERED AS HE WOVE HIS RHYTHMIC SPELL
EACH CAREFULLY CHOSEN NOTE CLEARER THAN A CHRYSTAL BELL
FAR FAR SWEETER SOUNDING THAN ANY BELL THAT EVER RANG
NOW EVER SINCE THAT NIGHT I’VE BEEN SEARCHING FOR A HANG
Copyright Harry Rogers – 17th October 2012 – Istanbul