An examination on being a poet and poems of Cevdet Karal

Under the influence of social transformation in Turkish poetry after 1980, poetic approaches have diversified, and poets have had the opportunity to delve deeper into their inner worlds and external realities. In this context, Cevdet Karal, one of the leading figures in modern Turkish poetry, stands out for his unique poetic language and thematic range. This study examines the poems of Cevdet Karal, appearing in eight of his published poetry collections, and attempts to draw conclusions on the poet's literary vision and poetic style. The main themes of Karal's poems are the ontological/theological facts and questions brought about by the pangs of existence, the metaphysical unease and tension, the self-anxiety centered on the self within the belief system (being, human nature, the universe, death, God), the impasses of the individual and their confrontation with themselves through introversion and pure quest, the crisis of meaning and faith for the modern man trapped between death, love, tradition, and modernity, the experience that transforms into aesthetics in the impasse (deadlock) of emotion and thought, and the individual's exposure to misunderstanding and desensitization in the face of social and political criticism. Karal, who combines this crisis of meaning and faith for the contemporary man trapped between tradition and modernity with other themes in his poems, has become a cry for the inner oppression of man, which he attempts to emphasize through poetry. The form, language, and style in Cevdet Karal's poems construct his unique poetics by consciously deviating from traditional patterns. The form, language, and style choices in his poems represent a line in Turkish poetry that is grounded in simplicity and sincerity, yet maintains formal distinctiveness through syntax. The poet establishes a strong empathy with the reader by utilizing free structure and the intimacy of everyday language, while adding depth and artistic intensity to his texts through inverted sentences and original imagery. The harmonious interplay of these three elements has transformed Karal's poetry into a contemporary and distinctive voice, making him a prominent figure of his generation. Key Words: Cevdet Karal, 1980 Generation Turkish Poetry, Kaşgar