Zekai Özger facts for kids

Zekai Özger (born January 8, 1948 – died May 5, 1973) was a talented young Turkish poet. He is best known by his special pen name, Arkadaş Z. Özger.

About Zekai Özger

Zekai Özger was born in Bursa, Turkey, on January 8, 1948. He grew up in a family with seven children. His father, Ali, worked for the public, and his mother, Fahriye, took care of their home.

When he was young, Zekai spent several months in the hospital. He had a bone disease that needed treatment.

His Education and Work

Zekai went to Altıparmak Primary School in Bursa. He then finished Atatürk High School in his hometown. After high school, he studied journalism at the Political Science department of Ankara University.

After finishing college, Özger started working. He became a film editor at the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) in Ankara.

His Early Passing

On May 5, 1973, Zekai Özger was found dead on a street. He had left his home the night before to watch TV at his workplace. It is believed that his death might have been caused by a serious head injury. He had suffered this injury during a time of unrest at his university in 1971.

Zekai Özger, the Poet

Zekai Özger started writing poems when he was in high school. He continued to write throughout his college years and after. Poetry was very important to him. He published his poems using the pen name Arkadaş Z. Özger. The word "Arkadaş" means "friend" in Turkish.

His Published Works

His first poem was called Tragedy of a beardless boy. It was published in 1967. His poems and other writings appeared in many magazines. Some of these magazines were Soyut, Forum, Papirüs, Yordam, Dost, and Yansıma. His work also appeared in the newspaper Ulus.

Zekai Özger did not get to publish his poems in a book during his lifetime. However, his friends gathered his poems after he passed away. A year after his death, in 1974, they published a collection of his poems. The book was titled Şiirler, which means "Poems".

Later, an expanded version of this book was released. It was called Sevdadır, meaning "It's Love". This poetry book has been published many times. It has reached its sixth edition, with even more poems included.

His Lasting Impact

To honor Arkadaş Z. Özger, a special award was created in 1996. The Mayıs Publishing company started the "Arkadaş Z. Özger Poetry Award". This award is given every year on the anniversary of his death. It recognizes important new poetry in Turkish literature.

Remembering His Work

People continue to remember Zekai Özger and his poetry. On May 5, 2010, a special event was held in Ankara. It was called "Poet Arkadaş Z. Özger Meeting". This meeting was part of a larger international event.

In 2021, a documentary film was made about him. The film was directed by Ulaş Tosun. Its title, "Merhaba Canım" (Hello My Dear), comes from one of Arkadaş Z. Özger's poems. This poem first appeared in Dost Magazine in 1970.