Old Street, as Turkish original name is Eski Sokak, is a collection of poems by Behçet Necatigil, reflecting his poetic understanding and dealing with the ordinary elements of individual life and daily experiences. First published in 1972 by Varlık Yayınları, the work is considered one of the poet's mature period creations. The poems in the book highlight themes such as the relationship between the individual's inner world and social reality, connecting with the past, traces of time, and family relationships.

Behçet Necatigil (1916–1979) is one of the representatives of Republican era Turkish poetry. In his poems, he addresses themes such as daily life, family relationships, individual psychology, and urban life. Throughout his literary career, in addition to being a poet, he also worked as a teacher and translator, and produced works in radio plays and essays.

Thematic Structure

The poems in the work can generally be grouped under the following thematic headings:

• Past and Memory: Childhood, youth, and nostalgic perspectives towards the past form the main theme of the poems. In this context, "old street" is a symbolic space of memory.
• Home and Family: Domestic life, relationships with family members, and emotional bonds are prominently featured in the work.
• Loneliness and Introspection: The individual's turn towards their inner world, the alienation and loneliness created by urban life are important elements of the poetic structure.
• Time and Space: The transience of time and the changes in spaces are discussed in the poems on a philosophical and emotional level.

Form and Language Features

Behçet Necatigil's poetic language is simple. He mostly uses free verse in his poems. He creates deep layers of meaning through short lines and strong images. He preferred suggestion over directness in narration, which guides the reader to actively participate in the poem.

On the Poem "Old Street"

The poem “Old Street,” which gives the book its name, is a representative example that addresses the relationship between individual memory and social transformation. Through the depiction of a physical street, the concepts of memory, past, and time are explored. Through the images used in the poem, the inner voice of a person is conveyed, and the poetic atmosphere is established through transitions between melancholy and peace.

Publication Information and Literary Value

First published in 1972, Old Street has been re-published by various publishing houses in different periods. The work is considered one of the important sources reflecting individual sensitivity and the inner world of the urban person in modern Turkish poetry. It has been included in various poetry anthologies alongside the poet's other works and has become a frequently cited text in Turkish literature research.