BEYOND NOSTALGIA: YAVUZ BÜLENT BÂKİLER’S FACTUAL POEM SİVAS HASRETİ

This paper examines the emotional, factual, and documentary elements within Yavuz Bülent Bâkiler’s 1970s poem, Sivas Hasreti (Longing for Sivas). Over several decades, the poet has been a significant contributor to Turkish culture and literature, expressing national sensitivity and the authentic essence of the country. In his rhymed, six-stanza composition, he reflects on memories from the 1940s and 1950s, presenting a nuanced portrayal that captures both positive and negative aspects of his childhood in a realistic manner. All over Sivas Hasreti, Bâkiler sensitively articulates his yearning for his hometown in a nostalgic tone, simultaneously highlighting various factual features of Sivas in Türkiye. Through the lens of nostalgia, the poet intricately weaves together details encompassing demography, religion, architecture, cultural heritage, climate, geography, history, icons, transportation, and life standards of Sivas. In this way, Bâkiler adeptly constructs a vivid mental image of his childhood hometown, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the multifaceted layers of memories from that era. The poet’s skill enriches the emotional depth and historical context of Sivas Hasreti, thereby solidifying the work’s special and enduring place in Turkish literature.