Mustafa Seyfi: Elegy of Proletaria

Illustration: AI

i am a worker,

the only tree forgotten in a burning forest

cheapest item of accounting records

the saint who is locked by the doors

in the age of entering and exiting with passwords

god doesn’t know anything about these days

i am a worker,

can’t start my life with the question i choose

they forced me plucking big bud roses to make soaps,

cutting sycamores for shadeless benchs,

drying the rain for a steppe,

ripping out my soul to make myself a spare part

i am a worker,

who only resurrects on weekends

and dies every monday again

penny lost in accounting records

god doesn’t know that my every day is monday

Mustafa Seyfi (1991, Karşıyaki, Izmir) is a contemporary Turkish poet and writer known for his socially engaged and emotionally resonant poetry. His work often explores themes of labor, identity, alienation, and the struggles of the working class, expressed through vivid imagery and powerful symbolism. In addition to his poetic output, he is actively involved in the Turkish literary scene as an editor, contributing to various online and print literary platforms. Mustafa Seyfi's voice stands out for its sincerity and commitment to reflecting the hardships and hopes of everyday people.