ANGINA PECTORIS 

  

 If half my heart is here, doctor, 

       the other half is in China 

 with the army flowing 

      toward the Yellow River. 

 And, every morning, doctor, 

 every morning at sunrise my heart 

      is shot in Greece. 

 And every night,c doctor, 

 when the prisoners are asleep and the infirmary is deserted, 

 my heart stops at a run-down old house 

                                        in Istanbul. 

 And then after ten years 

 ALL I HAVE TO OFFER MY POOR PEOPLE 

 IS THIS APPLE IN MY HAND, DOCTOR, 

 ONE READ APPLE: 

                MY HEART. 

 AND THAT, DOCTOR, THAT IS THE REASON 

 FOR THIS ANGINA PECTORIS- 

 NOT NICOTINE, PRISON, OR ARTERIOSCLEROSIS. 

 I look at the night through the bars, 

 and despite the weight on my chest 

 MY HEART STILL BEATS WITH THE MOST DISTANT STARS. 

  

                                 NAZIM HIKMET 

                                    [1948]