Metin Altıok facts for kids
Metin Altıok (born March 14, 1941 – died July 9, 1993) was a famous Turkish poet. He was part of the Alevi faith. Sadly, he died in an event called the Sivas massacre in 1993. Thirty-four other people, many of them thinkers and artists, also lost their lives that day.
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About Metin Altıok
Early Life and Education
Metin Altıok was born in a city called Bergama in the İzmir Province of Turkey.
He went to Ankara University to study philosophy. After finishing his studies, he worked for the government for a while. Later, he became a teacher.
He taught in many different cities across Anatolia. For several years, he taught at a religious school in the city of Bingöl.
His Poems and Art
Metin Altıok published his first book of poems in 1976. It was called Gezgin, which means "Gadding about". Two years later, he released another book, Yerleşik yabancı, meaning "Settled stranger".
He wrote eight more poetry books until 1992. His amazing works won him several literary awards. Besides writing, Metin Altıok also loved to draw. He made many drawings using pens and charcoal.
A Sad Day in Sivas
On July 2, 1993, Metin Altıok was at a cultural festival. This festival was held in the city of Sivas in central Turkey.
During the festival, a hotel where many people were staying caught fire. Metin Altıok was among those who died in this tragic event.
Remembering Metin Altıok
In 2003, a well-known Turkish composer named Fazıl Say created a special music piece. It was an oratorio called Requiem for Metin Altıok. Fazıl Say dedicated this music to Altıok, who was his friend.
Awards for His Poetry
- 1979: Ahmet Telli Poetry Prize
- 1990: Cemal Süreya Poetry Prize
