POET'S NONALIGNMENT The poet is neutral vis-`a-vis objects, a scent of the sea remains in his nails, he has seen how the apple rotted and fell of its branch: the smell of salt will return to the sea and the apple will not bow its head to its quintessence. The poet is neutral vis-`a-vis objects, the water turns blue as it gathers in the cistern, the shadow becomes shorter as the sun rises, the genuine noon is the poet's witness. The poet is neutral vis-`a-vis objects, because he is opposed to both death and deathlessness. Ozdemir Ince Translated by Talat Sait Halman (Talisman, 1991(Spring 6))