The Translation and Analysis of A Nietzsche Poem in Turkish

Abstract

It is known that works blending philosophy and poetry date back to very ancient times. Poetry, or poetic language, lends philosophy a lyrical, passionate, and emotional character as a style of expression. The incorporation of philosophy into the art of poetry, in turn, transforms poetry into a profound, enigmatic structure. Thus, it is understood that philosophical poetry possesses a multi-layered structure in terms of character and spirit. It is known that thinkers in the history of philosophy, such as Plato, have been opposed to poetry. However, it is noteworthy that Friedrich Nietzsche, who lived in the 19th century, took a serious stand against the dominance of systematic and rationalist philosophy. According to him, thinking of philosophy solely in a rationalist and intellectual sense leads to dry and insipid ideas. Art and poetry are an indispensable opportunity to broaden the narrowing field of philosophy and liberate human thought. In the poem Vereinsamt – Alone, translated here, Nietzsche’s lyrical side comes to the fore. It deals with the lyrical self’s feelings of loneliness, abandonment, and homelessness. Issues that constitute the subject matter of philosophy, primarily existence and isolation, have been expressed through the art of poetry. Nietzsche’s work can be considered a good example of philosophical poetry.