NEF'Î

Poet of Classical Ottoman Poetry (b. 1572, Hasankale / Erzurum - d. 27 January 1635, İstanbul). His real name was Ömer. He learned Arabic and Persian and he received a good education. His friend, the poet Gelibolulu Ali, gave him the nickname “Nef'î”(Utilitarian). In İstanbul, to where he had come after Ahmed I. took the throne (1603), he worked as clerk. He made himself known with the poems he presented to the Sultan and the notables of the time.

Being protected by Murad IV, he was appointed as trustee of Muradiye in Edirne, then as tax accountant in İstanbul. Murat II, who read his book of collected satires called Sihâm-ı Kaza (Arrows of Destiny), asked him to promise not to write satires again. Not keeping his word cost him his life. Due to his satire about Vizier Bayram Paşa, he was strangled in the palace wood and thrown into the sea by the Paşa.

Nef'î who is regarded as the best eulogy and satire poet, reached a peak in the area of satire with his strong technique, powerful harmony and sincere and bold words. With the eulogies that he presented to Ahmed I, Osman II and Murad IV and the statesman of the time in which he used descriptive language and fitting words he became very successful. Those who read his descriptions of war felt as if they were hearing the sound of explosions and the clink of swords. In his descriptions of spring, he made his readers feel the liveliness and activity of the season.

WORKS:

Türkçe Divan (Turkish Divan*, 1836-1853), Farsça Divan (Persian Divan*, Turkish Translation by Prof. Dr. Ali Nihad Tarlan, 1945), Siham-ı Kaza (Arrows of Destiny, his satires by Saffet Sıtkı, 1943).