Metin Altıok (14 March 1941, Bergama, İzmir – 9 July 1993, Ankara) was a Turkish poet, writer and painter. Influenced by the Second New poetic movement, Altıok addressed themes of alienation, deprivation and estrangement in his poetry. In works inspired by folk and Divan poetry, he explored individual sensitivity. He died in the 1993 Madımak Hotel fire in Sivas.

Metin Altıok was born on 14 March 1941 in the Bergama district of İzmir. Raised in a modest family, he grew up in an environment devoid of maternal affection, a condition that significantly influenced the development of themes of melancholy and loneliness in his poetry. He spent his childhood and youth in İzmir’s Karşıyaka district. At Karşıyaka High School, literature teacher Belkıs Zincirkıran and art teacher Şeref Bigalı were among the first to recognize his artistic talent.

He completed primary school at Alibey Primary School in İzmir (1953) and high school at Karşıyaka High School (1963). He graduated from the Department of Philosophy at Ankara University, Faculty of Language, History and Geography in 1971. His education shaped his philosophical and literary perspective; particularly, his philosophical training strengthened the abstract and introspective style of his poetry.

Altıok began his literary career in 1974 with poems and essays published in journals such as Dost, Köken, Soyut, Halkoyu, Türkiye Yazıları, Türk Dili, Sesimiz, Varlık, Oluşum, Gösteri and Sombahar, as well as in the newspapers Cumhuriyet and Aydınlık. His years as a teacher in Bingöl (1960s) contributed to the formation of pastoral and emotional themes in his poetry. In 1967, he held his first art exhibition with Orhan Taylan at the French Cultural Center in Ankara; his paintings were exhibited posthumously in Istanbul and Ankara. Alongside his identity as a poet, his role as a painter enriched his literary works with visual and imagistic depth.

Altıok received several awards for his poetry:

• 1980: Toprak Poetry Award for Kendinin Avcısı (shared with Ahmet Telli)
• 1989: Halil Kocagöz Poetry Award for İpek ve Kılaptan (shared with Veysel Çolak)
• 1991: Cemal Süreya Poetry Award for Gerçeğin Öte Yakası

Altıok developed a unique poetic language influenced by the Second New movement. While addressing themes of alienation, deprivation and estrangement, he drew inspiration from folk and Divan poetry. His poems emphasize pastoral imagery, philosophical depth and subtle sensitivity. He is remembered as a poet who united individual sensitivity with universal themes in Turkish literature. His work in visual art added a visual dimension to his literary production.

Altıok’s works are predominantly concentrated in poetry. His publications include:

• Poetry: Gezgin (1976), Yerleşik Yabancı (1978), Kendinin Avcısı (1980), Küçük Tragedyalar (1982), İpek ve Kılaptan (1987), Düşerim (1988), Gerçeğin Öte Yakası (1990), Süveyda (1991), Şiirin İlk Atlası (1992), Hesaplaşma (1993, published posthumously)
• Essays: Metin Altıok Kitabı (1993, published posthumously by the Writers’ Association), Gölgesi Yıldız Dolu (2004, published posthumously by his daughter Zeynep Altıok)

In addition to poetry and writing, Altıok was deeply interested in visual art. His identity as a painter significantly enriched the visual imagery in his poems. He engaged in extensive reading on philosophy and literature; pastoral themes and nature frequently appeared in his poetry.

Altıok married twice. His first wife was critic and essayist Füsun Akatlı; from this marriage, he had a daughter named Zeynep Altıok. He married Nebahat Çetin as his second wife; they met while assigned to Bingöl. He led a quiet family life; his daughter Zeynep published the book Gölgesi Yıldız Dolu to preserve his memory.

In 1993, he traveled to Sivas to participate in the Pir Sultan Abdal Cultural Festival. During this period, he continued writing poetry and painting, although his alcohol dependency negatively affected his health.

On 2 July 1993, he was seriously injured in the Madımak Hotel fire in Sivas. He was transferred to Gülhane Military Medical Academy in Ankara but died on 9 July 1993. His funeral was held in the section of Ankara Karşıyaka Cemetery designated for those who died in the Sivas fire.

Altıok’s tragic death provoked a profound response in Turkish literature and society. His poems continue to be read for their delicate language that explores individual and social sensitivity. In his memory, the Writers’ Association published Metin Altıok Kitabı (1993) and his daughter Zeynep Altıok published Gölgesi Yıldız Dolu (2004).