I seek myself in you

 I loved you from afar, my beautiful one.

I miss you so much, day and night.

Your beautiful words reach my heart.

I seek myself in you, not in myself.

Don’t just watch and laugh: extend your hand.

I see your honeyed tongue singing.

You stole my mind while you were the girl of our house.

I don’t seek myself in myself, but in you.

The judge spoke from the middle of the book.

He said that you are the source of peace and the taste of my mouth.

Your mother named you when you were born.

I don’t seek myself in myself, but in you.

Gliding over the sea

You smile at me, beautiful one, I admire you.

You fascinate me so much that I feel you reach my heart.

I don’t seek myself in myself, but in you.

There are mountains that are vast and high.

It is the immaculate snow I have placed in my heart.

In my heart, your words are honor.

I do not seek myself in myself, but in you.

From Kemal Berk

I was born in 1955 in the Sungurlu district of Çorum province, Turkey. I attended primary, secondary, and high school in Sungurlu. I completed my university education at Ankara Gazi Education Institute. I began teaching in 1978 and retired in 2016. I am married with three children and four grandchildren. In addition to my professional life, I continued teaching Turkish folk dances, which began during my student years, and taught them to hundreds of students. We participated in festivals, opening ceremonies, and competitions, and won awards. I took special art courses, learning 3D painting techniques, and creating paintings. I took a course for the hearing impaired, learning how to communicate with people with hearing impairments. For two years, I attended special gastronomy courses and learned to prepare various meat dishes, vegetable dishes, desserts, pastries, and buns. Preparing and serving these dishes gives me peace of mind. I volunteer at AFAD, which provides aid in disasters such as fires, floods, earthquakes, and landslides.