Freedom

By Shirko Bikas:

From my songs if one flower is taken away,

One season would die.

If love is taken away,

Two seasons would die.

If bread is taken away,

Three seasons would die.

But, freedom!

If from my songs freedom is taken away,

Year, the whole year would die.

The Immortal Kurdish Poet Shirko Bikas

Note by Dr. M. Koohzad:

I believe the name should be spelled as “Shirko Bikas” with accents on the “i”s. Actually, the “i” must sound like “ee”. As a penname, “Shir-ko” means “Mountain Lion.” And “Bikas” is a reference to a person who has no family, no friends, no help/helper, or he is alone and lonely. Thus, his name means a “Lonely Mountain Lion.” These words illustrate the richness and meaningfulness of Kurdish language.