Knock the Fences Down by Bakhtiyar Vahabzade (born 1925) Everyone puts up a fence around his own field Saying, "On this side of the fence, this is mine." Come, tear the fences down, demolish the ramparts So that our eyes can gaze at distant parts. How can rooms contain the heart that must live free: It should leap over hill and vale, on and on. For so long as my eyes can see, I shall keep scanning the widening horizon. Never hinder the growth of flowers, of the roses, Never wound their hearts to die. Nature is free: Never hold It inside the fortresses, in captivity. We must refuse to play a game of backgammon, Confined to squares inlaid with gold. Our hearts should keep growing and soaring, on and on Like the ever-widening, endless horizon. Come, tear the fences down, demolish the ramparts So that our eyes can gaze at all the distant parts. From "Bakhtiyar Vahabzade. Poems, Short Stories and a Play", edited by Hadi Sultan-Qurraie, and translated by Talat Sait Halman. Indiana University Turkish Studies Publications: Bloomington, Indiana, 1998. Back to - Bakhtiyar Vahabzade Index Home | About Azeri | Learn Azeri | Arabic Script | Contact us © Azerbaijan International. Copyright since 2003. All rights reserved.