The Sun Shining on a Love - Selected Poems, as original Turkish name is Bir Aşka Vuran Güneş - Seçme Şiirler, is a compilation of poems from Oktay Rifat's mature period. This work reflects the poet's aesthetic transformation, evolving from the influence of the early period Garip movement towards a late period poetic understanding. The structure built around themes like love, time, nature, and death; is a poetic universe that combines simple language with philosophical depth.

About the Author: Oktay Rifat

Oktay Rifat (1914–1988) is one of the pioneers of Republican era Turkish poetry and a founder of the Garip movement. He graduated from Ankara University Faculty of Law and the School of Political Sciences in Paris. Along with the Garip movement, he wrote poems on daily life, relying on folk expression; in later periods, he turned to more symbolic and abstract narratives exploring concepts such as the individual's inner world, time, and existence. He also produced works in the genres of theater, novel, and essay. His evolution in poetry has made him not just a part of a movement, but a versatile literary figure who played an active role in the transformation of Turkish poetry.

Content and Thematic Structure of the Work

The Sun Shining on a Love - Selected Poems, thematically explores the emotional and philosophical dimensions of love, while also opening the door to the individual's existential inquiries around the concepts of nature and time. The prominent themes in the book are summarized as follows:

• Love and Temporality: Love is presented not merely as a romantic theme; but as a state of mind related to the traces of the past, the flow of time, and the fragmented nature of memory.
• Nature Imagery: Elements such as the sun, sky, sea, and earth generate associations belonging to both external reality and the inner world. The sun is particularly used as a metaphor for emotions such as confrontation, purification, and remembrance.
• Internal Transformation and Melancholy: The poems present narratives where the individual confronts themselves, faces memories, and experiences emotional breakdowns. This situation creates a distinct melancholic atmosphere in the poems.

Poetic Language and Formal Characteristics

The poetic language in Oktay Rifat's work combines simplicity and depth. The use of free verse is prominent, but the sense of rhythm and the phonetic harmony of words have been carefully constructed. The narration progresses at times with inverted sentences or lines in the stream-of-consciousness style. The imagery is strong; individual emotions and philosophical inquiries coincide with symbolic elements. The simplicity in the poet's language, combined with the intensity of the content, increases the poetic depth.

On the Poem: “The Sun Shining on a Love”

The poem that gives the book its name addresses themes such as love, time, and loss through the remembrance of an individual love. The sun image here symbolizes both the warmth of past memories and their inevitable disappearance. The poem establishes a connection between memories fading with time and today's emotional reflections, taking the reader on an inner journey.

Publication Information and Publishing

The Sun Shining on a Love - Selected Poems, first published in the 1980s, is an important work reflecting Oktay Rifat's late period poetic understanding. Currently published by Yapı Kredi Publications, the book is considered a work that serves as a bridge in the poet's poetic development.