We were in the village… I was so close to the small waterfall that roared with a pure and moderate rush of joy that the invisible particles flying from the falling water were wetting my face like an imaginary rain, and my dog, lying face down with half-closed eyes, was watching this landscape he was seeing for the first time and didn’t dare move. The shadows of the old oak trees were falling in emerald and trembling spots on the dense and wild bushes covering the damp stones, and the newly sprouted delicate and transparent grasses were sleeping a tender innocent sleep with the scorching and forgetful lullaby of the waterfall.
No sound, neither a bird nor an insect violated this sweet-humming tranquility. Wind, movement, even life—as if these had been eternally extinguished. My dog and I were happy. In this green mirage-laden dream of spring, having forgotten everything, far from pain, from ambition, from desires—we were happy. I too had imitated him and lay face down. I was smelling the enchanting scent of summer, the sugary spring fragrance emanating from the moist and clean earth in my mouth. I don’t know how long we remained in this unconscious presence! But the escaping sound of the waterfall began to change, the green shadows gradually dispersing and darkening, the white foam growing dark, the evening wind beginning to blow like a cool farewell breath with its unconscious waves. Evening was coming and it was necessary to wake. I got up and said, “Come on, Koton, let’s go now.”
My obedient dog didn’t want to get up; with his meaningful and bright eyes, as if saying “Why are you doing such an inappropriate thing?” he was looking at me pleading and begging. I pitied the poor thing because his presence and happiness would be destroyed. I sat down next to him again, caressing his beautiful head, his drooping ears with my hands, consoling him: “Yes, we’ll go, dear Koton. We’ll go, and we’ll leave the moment of happiness we lived here to the past of memories, like all past and future happinesses. In a few hours, night will arrive with its ambiguous and mysterious darknesses; now the mocking frogs hiding among the pebbles and grasses will make the trees—transformed into invisible monsters in the darkness—dance with their metallic and fearsome cries; this beautiful and heavenly place will become a frightening and terrifying nightmare. Ah, if you only knew how all happinesses, all springs, all pleasures are such deceptive and mortal dreams!”
He didn’t understand what I said; only with the grateful brightness of his smiling closed eyes was he expressing contentment, and because I had sat next to him, from my tender caress, thinking I had consented to stay here eternally, he was vigorously wagging his tail.
Ömer Seyfettin
