You struggled, Black Sea (Poem)

“Çırpınırdın Karadeniz” is a poem written in 1914 by Azerbaijan’s national poet Ahmed Cevad. Over time, it has become one of the shared cultural values for both Azerbaijan and Türkiye. The poem was composed following the Ottoman Empire’s entry into the First World War and is regarded as a text symbolizing the ideals of independence, brotherhood, and solidarity in the Turkish world.

Çırpınırdın Karadeniz Şiiri

Çırpınırdın Karadeniz

Looking at the Turkish flag,

You said, “Ah! I would never die,

If only I could fall at its feet!”

From the land of a separated friend,

Years have passed, beating against my chest...

The faithful have come and gone,

Make way for the Turkish flag!

Scatter pearls along your path,

String pearls to your right and left,

Let storms stand aside,

Salute the Turkish flag!

That Turkish blood of Hamidiye

Has no end to its glory.

Let Kazbek be its first sacrifice,

Salute the Turkish flag!

The winds blowing from the land of a friend

Sing poetry and offer salutations to me.

May all our lands

Be sacrifices to the Turkish flag^【1】

The Composition Process of the Poem

Historical Context

The poem was written during a period of significant developments for the Ottoman Empire and Azerbaijani Turks during the First World War. The territorial losses suffered by the Ottoman Empire after the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878, the outbreak of the World War in 1914, and the consequences of the Sarıkamış Campaign directly affected the Turkish and Muslim populations of the region.

Place of Composition

“Çırpınırdın Karadeniz” was written on 14 December 1914 in Ganja. One of the sources of inspiration for the poem was the news that the Ottoman Navy’s cruiser Hamidiye had sunk the Russian warship Kazbek off the coast of Sevastopol.

Musical Setting of the Poem

In 1918, Azerbaijani territories came under joint attacks by Bolshevik and Armenian armed groups. In response to appeals for assistance from Azerbaijan, the Ottoman Empire dispatched the Caucasian Islamic Army under the command of Nuri Pasha. On 15 September 1918, this army entered Baku and liberated the city.

Following the arrival of the Caucasian Islamic Army to free Baku from occupation, “Çırpınırdın Karadeniz” was set to music in 1918 by Üzeyir Hacıbeyli. It is known that the musical notation of the piece was lost and later rediscovered during various periods. After 1920, the work was not performed for a long time in Azerbaijan, but it was revived in 1992.

Literary Features of the Poem

The poem was composed within the framework of national literature. Ahmed Cevad generally employed a simple language and syllabic meter in his works, placing nationalist sentiments and ideas at the forefront. “Çırpınırdın Karadeniz” is a typical example of this approach.

In the poem, the Black Sea symbolizes the unity of the Turkish world and the Turan ideal. Themes of homeland, flag, freedom, and brotherhood are explored. The verb “çırpınmak” (to struggle or writhe) is used as a symbol of the nation’s struggle for freedom and independence.

The references to the cruiser Hamidiye and the armored ship Kazbek reflect the military developments of the era. The image of the flag stands at the center of the poem as the most powerful symbol of independence and national identity.

The Life of Ahmed Cevad

Ahmed Cevad (1892–1937) was born in the village of Seyfeli, in the Şemkir district of Azerbaijan. He completed his education in Ganja and studied Arabic, Persian, and Russian. He participated in the Balkan Wars on the side of the Ottoman Empire and engaged in relief activities during the First World War. The poem “Çırpınırdın Karadeniz,” written by the poet during this period, has become one of the most important examples of national literature.

The poem has been recognized as a national anthem in both Azerbaijan and Türkiye and has become a work representing the shared historical and cultural heritage of the two countries^【2】. Although written at the beginning of the 20th century, it regained widespread popularity in Azerbaijan and Türkiye from the 1990s onward. It is regarded as one of the literary manifestations of the concept “two states, one nation.”