Istanbul never saw us together,
As we never had a chance,
To ride on a ferry,
To sail along the Bosphorous,
Throwing dried bread crumbs,
To the hunger-struck, Screeching
Seagulls, That flew just overhead,
And we never had a chance to share,
The various beauties,
Present in this ancient land.
Istanbul never saw us together,
Sipping tea on the heights of
"Chamlija" or "Pierre Loti",
Where we could view the city,
Below our feet, Tiny.
We never walked on the main street
In "Beyoglu" or went to the cinema,
Where we would have been able to
Eat "profiterol" in the famous
Chocolate shop "Inji",
Or to feast wonderful Ottoman cuisine,
At "Haji Abdullah's",
Nor were we able to visit,
The old mosques of "SultanAhmet",
"Suleymaniye" or "EyubSultan",
Nor the great "Topkapi Palace"
Where we could have dreamed of being
Princesses in the Harem,
Busy with tricks, play and plotting,
Nor were we able to allow ourselves,
To be carried away by bustling crowds,
To the Covered Bazaar full of goods,
Spices, Scents, Silks, Carpets
And delicate Handicrafts,
Only to be found in this ancient city,
That never saw us together in destiny.