Selected Lyric Poetry of Yunus Emre
Translated by Refik Algan & Kabir Helminski
Yunus Emre (d. 1320?), called the “greatest folk poet in Islam” (Talat Sait Halman), was an unlettered Turkish shepherd who sang mystical songs which are still popular today. He was the first of a whole tradition of Turkish Sufi troubadours who sang of the Divine Presence, the Beloved, the Friend. His songs/poems convey a profound yet earthy spirituality. His subject is the Heart, the point of awareness where God is realized in us. “I’ve come to build some heart,” Yunus sings. We are proud to introduce this great poet to readers of English.
