The Lamppost Diary

by Agop J. Hacikyan

  hammam – Turkish bath (Turkish)

  hanιm – formerly lady; Mrs, Miss (Turkish)

  Isa – Jesus (Turkish)

  jambaz – acrobat, rope dancer (Turkish)

  jiğerji – seller of offal or meats (Turkish)

  kalpak – fur cap or hat (Turkish)

  kilim – thin woven carpet (Turkish)

  kismet – chance, destiny, godsend; chances of marriage for women (Turkish)

  koukourech – stuffed sheep intestines (Greek and Turkish)

  kourabiya or kourabyé – dry cake made with almonds or other nuts (Turkish)

  koumbaros – godfather (Greek)

  kyria – lady (Greek)

  Kyrie eleison – Lord have mercy (Greek)

  lakerda – salted tuna (Greek and Turkish)

  laterna – a Greek barrel-organ (Greek)

  lokum – Turkish delight (Turkish)

  manchougues – my boy (Armenian)

  mashrapa – metal jug (Turkish)

  meyhané – tavern (Turkish)

  mezé – savoury tidbits that accompany drinking; appetizer (Turkish)

  mezeji – seller of mezé (Turkish)

  mezuzah – a piece of parchment contained in a decorative case, inscribed with Hebrew verses from the Torah. A mezuzah is affixed to the doorpost of Jewish homes (Hebrew)

  muhallebiji – a maker and seller of milk puddings (Turkish)

  mouhtar – head man, elder of a quarter or village (Turkish)

  muguet – lily of the valley (French)

  namaz – divine worship, prayer in Islam (Turkish)

  nazar bonjouğu – a blue bead with a blue eye on a white circular background worn as protection against the evil eye (Turkish)

  ochi chornye – dark eyes; the name of a popular Russian song (Russian)

  oryort – Miss, lady (Armenian)

  pastιrma or basdιrma – pressed beef cured with garlic and other spices (Turkish)

  pedimou – my child (Greek)

  pekmez – molasses (Turkish)

  pektürk – literally, extremely Turkish (Turkish)

  rakι – alcoholic beverage distilled from raisins (Turkish), equivalent of arak (Arabic) and ouzo (Greek)

  retsina – a Greek white or rosé wine flavored with pine resin (Greek)

  salah – the Arabic word for the spiritual relationship and communication between the creature and his creator. Salah is one of the five pillars of Islam (Arabic)

  sheytan – satan (Turkish)

  siktir – fuck off; go to hell (Turkish)

  soujouk – sausage-shaped garlicky sweetmeat (Turkish)

  sura – any of the main divisions or chapters of the Qur’an (Arabic)

  tahini or tahin – sesame oil (Turkish)

  tape-tapis – carpet beater (French)

  tarama – carp caviar (Turkish and Greek)

  tavla – backgammon (Turkish)

  tellâk – bath attendant (Turkish)

  usta – skilled, expert (Turkish)

  vatman – driver of a tram (Turkish)

  yalι – house along the waterfront (Turkish and Greek)

  Acknowledgements

  My gratitude to my family for their love: Talleen, Diego, Pablo, Stephen, Lori, Alexia, Sasha, Patrick, Mike, Cheryl, Anamika, Shaant, Nancy, Albert, Alise, Andrew and Michael.

  My gratitude to my beloved city of Istanbul, where I was born, to its streets, parks, buildings and to its people: teachers, friends, confidants, priests, magicians, visionaries, storytellers, polygamous fathers, monogamous mothers, voluptuous aunts, benevolent whores, politicians, pimps, mistresses, magistrates, herbalists, cabbies, antiquaries, poets and cherubic sisters.

  My gratitude to my colleague Edward Franchuk for his dedication, precious comments and critical eye; to Moris Farhi, a life-long friend, novelist, and a perennial critic for his unerring support; to Nancy Kricorian, a poet, novelist and pillar of human rights for believing in my story and her efforts to promote it; and to Linda Ghan for her insights into the mysteries of creative subtleties.

  My gratitude to those who never denied me their unflinching professional support: Jennifer Kavanagh, Laura Longrigg, Alice Nogoghosian, Arthur Evans, Ara Kermoyan, Jean-Yves Soucy, Carole Levert, André Bastien, Johanne Guay, Ragιp Zarakolu, Muzaffer Erdoğdu, Ara Saraf ian, Anita Chang, Mario Casalini, Renaud Bombard and Diana Der Hovanessian.

  My gratitude to all those who listened to my readings in private and in public and cheered me with their joy and pertinent remarks.

  My gratitude to my terrific sponsors and dedicated collaborators at Saqi and Telegram: Lynn, André and Salwa Gaspard, Lara Frankena, Rebecca O’Connor, Shikha Sethi and the late Mai Ghoussoub who assembled visions into reality.

  My gratitude to Tomas, my ubiquitous creation and fictional disposition, who always routed me through my narratives over the years.

  And my gratitude to William Saroyan who embarked me on my creative quest years ago one spring morning in Paris.