Signs by Defne Kartal

Signs by Defne Kartal

Author: Maggie Devers November 10, 2025 Duration: 2:47

Signs

Defne Kartal

I don’t believe in signs but I do
I beg for them daily, and when they arrive -
A postcard, a dog, a friend, a group of musicians, a Canadian -
i don’t do what I think they’re telling me to
what are signs for?
I don’t believe and I don’t know, I don’t know, so I don’t believe
Instead, I conjure up an image of you
Walking away through the crowd,
I follow you
Eyes closed in my bed
I hold you
I look in people’s windows, says the poet
I always, always, always do
Lion-faced truth-speaker
Nothing to see, if I can’t find you

but can anyone prove to me please,
show the signs to me, please
That my world has known you,
And the world as I know it, still holds you
in a corner where I don’t see, there you must be
(Here’s a solace: Object permanence)
What did you have for dinner today and who did you talk to?
You must have gotten my letter
did it break or mend something
And do you - believe in signs, the way I do?
ask for them find them hate them love them
ask for them again,
again
again
do you?

More from Defne Kartal ↓


Mentioned in this episode:

Write After: National Poetry Month with One Poem Only

Write After is a way to encourage poets to listen and write, and use National Poetry Month to highlight how listening to poetry makes us better poets. I know I write the best when I’m surrounded by beautiful poetry–it’s part of the reason I created this podcast, and I want to encourage others to share this practice. We'll get started in April. You can share to #WriteAfterOPO.

#WriteAfterOPO


Each day, One Poem Only offers a brief, deliberate pause. Hosted by Maggie Devers, this podcast is built on a simple, consistent premise: a single poem, read aloud, without analysis or introduction. It’s an audio space where the words themselves are the event, a performance meant to be absorbed in the few minutes it takes to hear it. The daily rhythm of the show creates a quiet ritual, a point of reflection woven into a busy life. You might hear a classic sonnet, a piece of modern free verse, or a work from a poet you’ve never encountered. The selection is varied, touching on themes from the natural world to the intricacies of human emotion, always leaving room for your own interpretation. The effect is cumulative; listening regularly becomes a subtle form of education in the sound and scope of poetry, and a small act of self-care. This isn't a lecture or a book club, but a performing art delivered directly to your ears. Maggie’s clear, thoughtful readings provide the only framework needed, allowing each poem to stand entirely on its own. The curtain falls, and the moment passes, but the podcast invites you to return tomorrow when a new piece takes center stage, offering another quiet moment, one poem only.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 355

One Poem Only
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