Ulugbek Yesdaulet [Kazakhstan]

 

Ulugbek Street 

In Almaty there is a street called ‘Ulugbek’.
People were born and grew up there.
‘Cheers to the fact the street was named after you,’
my friends and associates joke.
In Almaty there is a street called ‘Ulugbek’.
Too few days to sweep up the leaves,
if Ulugbek is going to gleam like the street.
But the clouds did not abandon the head of this Ulugbek.
There is a street in Almaty called ‘Ulugbek’.
A cool breeze calls you for a walk.
Its mood is as changeable as mine.
On some days it gets sultry.
Having been given his name,
I am close to this stargazer soul –
for the two of us, one street’s enough,
after all I’m a street poet myself …
 
 

Hour Glass

I was given a gift:
an hourglass filled with sand –
the sand drops so quickly
fills my eyes, covers everything.
That relentless hourglass
counts off each second,
each minute, each day, each year.
And the sands are running down.
How much is left in the glass?
What price for my destiny?
In the blink of an eye
the sky falls in on everything.
 
 

Last Meeting with my Father

That’s how it is, life gone in a flicker.
You called in on me to say goodbye.
A strange meeting – out of kilter;
your voice deep; each breathe a sigh.
 
Hardly lifting your head,
drained of spark and vitality
Aye, son, you muttered,
that’s it. I’m done completely…
 
My eyes gleamed with regret,
I was powerless, gasping for breath,
falling without a chute or net,
tumbling headlong to earth.
 
Father, I’m begging you, ignore
your poor son’s miserable cries.
I hadn’t realized before:
mountains must also die.
 
(Translated by John Glenday with Gaukhar Khalyk)
 
(From “The Felt Book”)

 

 

Author’s Bionote:
 
*Ulugbek Yesdaulet: A prominent Kazakh poet, essayist, playwright, translator Ulugbek Yesdaulet was born on April 29, 1954 in the Zaisan district of the East Kazakhstan region. He graduated from the Faculty of Journalism of the Kazakh State University, the M. Gorky Literary Institute (Moscow). Laureate of the State Prize of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Honored Worker of Kazakhstan. In 2018-2023, he headed the Union of Writers of Kazakhstan. Currently, he is the Chairman of the International Union of Writers of TURKSOY, President of the International Academy of Kazakh Poetry, National Coordinator of the World Poetry Movement (WPM), Life Member of the World Academy of Arts and Culture under UNESCO, Laureate of the Grand Prix of the 6th Boa International Poetry Festival (China), Honorary President of the Silk Road International Poetry and Art Festival (Beijing-Xi'an, China), and others. Honorary Academician of several International Academies, Honorary Professor of several universities in several countries. Awarded the Gold Medals of Russia named after L. Tolstoy, M. Lermontov, and S. Yesenin. A 5-volume collection of works has been published. Currently, he is the author of more than twenty collections of poems. His works have been published in the languages ​​of Great Britain, France, Turkey, Romania, Russia, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan as separate books. A number of his poems have been translated into Greek, Chinese, Spanish, Arabic, Japanese, Tatar, Gagauz, Baltic, Ukrainian, Belarusian, Bulgarian, Balkar, Bashkir, etc. languages ​​and published in anthologies. Many songs have been written to his poems. The poet's poetic dramas "Kara Pima", "Zere", and the opera "Beibarys" are being staged in theaters in Kazakhstan. The poem "Zaman-ay" has become the anthem of the international anti-nuclear movement, has been released on CDs performed by Japanese singers, and has entered karaoke.