The Sky Gazing Stop - Selected Poems, as Turkish original name is Gökyüzüne Bakma Durağı - Seçme Şiirler, is a selection of poems from different periods of Turgut Uyar. This work reveals the poet's thematic and formal transformation while strengthening his position within the Second New (movement). The poems included in the selection reflect lyricism on both individual and social levels.

The book was first published in 2008. Various editions have been published by different publishing houses. It is considered an important example in terms of poetry publishing and still reaches wide audiences today.

The book is a work that also documents the transformation of Turkish poetry. It reveals both the individual's inner world and the social spirit of the period through poetic language.

Turgut Uyar (1927–1985) is one of the leading representatives of the Second New poetry movement in Turkish literature. Uyar, who initially drew attention with his poems written in more traditional forms, gradually turned towards a modern understanding of poetry by preferring a narrative woven with density of meaning, abstract imagery, and associations. Lyricism, individual inner conflict, irony, and metaphorical intensity are among the distinguishing features of his poems.

Thematic Structure

The poems included in the selection are shaped around the following main themes:

• Love and Passion: Intense emotions reflected in the poet's personal life have given his poems a lyrical structure. The poem “Göğe Bakma Durağı” (Station of Looking at the Sky), in particular, is an example of the theme of love.
• Individual Loneliness and Inner Tension: The alienating aspects of city life are explored alongside the individual's loneliness and disintegrations within their inner world.
• Social Criticism: Uyar, whose political sensitivity increased from the 1960s onwards, addresses individual-society relationships from a critical perspective.
• Nature and Sky Imagery: Metaphorical connections established with natural elements such as sky, moon, and clouds are important elements reflecting the poet's metaphysical quests.

Formal Characteristics

Turgut Uyar's poetic language, parallel to the abstract and experimental structure of the Second New, abandons conventional structures. In poems written in free verse, inverted sentences, sound repetitions, unusual word order, and unexpected imagery stand out. In some poems, elements close to the lyricism of classical Turkish poetry can be seen. Meaning in his poems is often constructed with associative depth rather than explicit expression.

The Poem “Göğe Bakma Durağı”

The poem that gives its name to the selection is one of the most frequently referenced works in modern Turkish poetry. This poem offers a simple yet impactful narrative that suggests sharing a common joy amidst the rush of daily life. Looking at the sky is treated as both a physical and metaphorical orientation in the poem; it transforms into a symbol of hope, freedom, and togetherness.