Writing Nasreddin Hodja Stories - A Creative Writing Project

Here, you will read three Nasreddin Hodja (The Great Turkish Comic) stories presented in English poetry style, marking a unique project that is a first in both Turkish and English literature."

One day Nasreddin Hodja was sleeping in his home

He was woken up by a knock knock on his door

‘‘Oh, what the hell is your

problem man?’’ he grumbled.

And wondered, ‘‘Who this can be?’’

He got up from his bed went to the door

Yelled before: ‘‘Who is he?’’

It was his neighbor, said ‘‘Hodja, it's me!’’

‘‘Me’’ is an enough answer for a Turkish to states

It was how Romans opened their gates

of Istanbul to the Turks.

They were very good at preparing lurks.

Anyway, let's go back to the story

Hodja said, ‘‘What do you want buddy?’’

Neighbor asked for Hodja’s donkey

‘‘Can you lend it to me for a day?’’

‘‘Can't help buddy! I run out of my donkey.’’

Neighbor got disappointed and sad,

While he was walking away

Heard the voice of donkey bray

from the Hodja’s barn.

Thereupon he said, ‘‘Oh Hodja,

You said donkey had gone

Why did you lie to me?’’

Nasreddin Hodja put a good face on him

Raised his voice a bit

And yelled:

‘‘What kind of man you are,

you don't believe my word

but to the Donkey’s huh?

You Are Right

Two men involved in a conflict

With each other one day

But hey!

‘‘We have to solve the problem.’’

So they went to the Hodja Nasreddin

‘‘Hodja hodja, only you can clean

this mess and keep the peace

Please, be our judge

and decide between us

who is wrong and who is right?’’

Hodja accepted the offer

and listened to both sides

First man told his story

Hodja said, ‘‘Yeah you are right!’’

Man became happy

Thought he had won the fight.

Then,

Second man told his story.

‘’Oh man, not to be sorry

You are also right!’’

There was the there third party

Very confused and asked:

‘‘Hodja, how on earth

both are right?’’

Hodja looked, and very calmly

‘‘Oh, you are absolutely right!’’

The Great Slap

While Hodja was walking on the way,

A Great slap downed to back of his neck.

Hodja turned with a great anger,

Slapper saw the furious danger

in Hodja's eyes and said:

-Oh, sorry Hodja. You looked

like someone else to me.

Hodja didn't buy it.

"It is not that easy buddy!"

Hold the man and took him to the judge.

"I am suing this man!" said Hodja.

Judge listened both sides and decides:

-Slapper shall give 20 liras.

Ouch, that didn't satisfy the Hodja,

But nothing to do.

Slapper said, "I don't have money to give you

Wait, I will go and bring some."

Hours started to pass

But he didn't come.

Hodja waited, waited, waited

Looked at the nepotist judge hated

Approached to his side

While judge was reading a paper.

Hodja raised his hand and

Slapped the judge's neck

From his back…

And said in a very gentle way:

-You shall take the 20 liras!

Then walked away.