<pre>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]