The young poet Kaan Sabancı is just 15 years old, but his second book of poems, titled Maybe I Would’ve Returned is already out. Published by Doğan Kitap, the book contains 88 poems penned by Sabancı between September 2017 and October 2018. Dedicated to the shores of Beylerbeyi, the book’s poems explore a variety of topics, including friendship, camaraderie, love, family, relationships and social events. He joined us for a brief interview.

You are 15 years old and have just published your second book of poems. When did your interest in poetry begin?
I was always interested in poetry; I read a lot, but writing poems felt a bit challenging. My eighth-grade Turkish literature teacher noticed my interest and encouraged me to write poems, which he would then read and comment on. He helped me develop.

You often expand the possibilities of language in your poems, which contain verses in the street language alongside more archaic words. What is your relationship with language? Do you like using older words?
I try to explore a different topic, feeling or perspective in each poem. That is why the words I use are varied. I scatter both new and old words into my poems, and I believe this helps enhance their effect.

Who are your favorite poets? Do you also read poems in other languages?
I always read the works of influential poets such as Can Yücel, Cemal Süreya, Nazım Hikmet, Özdemir Asaf and Ahmed Arif. I tried many times to read English poems, but they never invoked the same feelings that Turkish poems do.

Are you also interested in prose? Do you read novels or essays?
Unfortunately, I am not on as good terms with prose. At best, I am a good reader.

Do you see poetry as a way of expression or a work of inspiration?
Poetry is a work of inspiration for newcomers, or those who return to it after a break. You get moments of inspiration while you are eating dinner, or while you’re out wandering, and you put these moments into words. As you get more acquainted with it, however, you can just sit down to compose a poem, and let the verses flow on their own.

Social media compresses all messages into few lines of aphorisms. How do you think poetry and social media relate to one another, if they do relate at all?
Actually, most of today’s young poets make a name for themselves on social media. Social media is a necessity of our age. Everyone can act more naturally there. It is easier to express one’s opinion when they are anonymous.

edebiyathaber.net (December 11, 2018) – View on original site