Ilhan Berk (1918, Manisa) contemporary Turkish poet. İlhan Berk was a dominant figure in Second New Generation . He has been very influential among Turkish literary circles.

Life

Ilhan Berk was born in Manisa in 1918. His graduated from French Language Department of Gazi University in Ankara. Between 1945-1955, Berk served as a teacher. He later began to work for the publishing office of Ziraat Bank as a translator (1956-1969). İlhan Berk resides in Bodrum, Muğla.

Poetry

Berk's poetry evolved from the approach of an epical socialist to the dreamy vision of a lyrical and erotic individual. He made the "object" visible in its glory and aimed to break down the meaning. Berk's poetry takes its roots from the Mythology, and a synthesis of Western and Eastern poetry traditions, yet he accomplishes to create a unique and modern approach. History,geography,visual arts, cities such as İstanbul,Paris and Ankara, feed Berk's poetry and his themes are supported by a huge universe of words that expand from those that are used in daily routine to some distinguished terms of music or local names for plants.

Works

• Güneşi Yakanların Selamı (1935)
• Istanbul (1947)
• Günaydın Yeryüzü (1952)
• Türkiye Şarkısı (1953)
• Köroğlu (1955)
• Galile Denizi (1958)
• Çivi Yazısı (1960)
• Otağ (1961)
• Mısırkalyoniğne (1962)
• Âşıkane (1968)
• Taşbaskısı (1975)
• Şenlikname (1976)
• Atlas (1976)
• Kül (1978)
• İstanbul Kitabı (1980)
• Kitaplar Kitabı (1981)
• Deniz Eskisi (1982)
• Delta ve Çocuk (1984)
• Galata (1985)
• Güzel Irmak (1988)
• Pera (1990)
• Dün Dağlarda Dolaştım Evde Yoktum (1993)
• Avluya Düşen Gölge (1996)
• Şeyler Kitabı Ev (1997)
• Çok Yaşasın Sayılar (1998)

Awards

• 1979 Turkish Language Association Awards
• 1980 Behçet Necatigil Poetry Awards
• 1983 Yeditepe Poetry Prize