Uniform by Karin Karakasl
here is a constant struggle in Turkey between being oneself and having to fit into a mould \u2013 a mould shaped by nationalistic values and imposed by a majority \u2013 which makes daily life extremely difficult for people who come from one of the many minority communities. This state of struggle and in-betweenness is described in the poem \u2018Uniform\u2019 \u2013 from school days dressed in \u2018mouse grey\u2019 skirts all the way to adulthood.
The human suffering, the yearning for love and hope, portrayed in Karaka\u015fl\u0131\u2019s poems is the daily reality for people in many parts of the world. Beyond specific historical and cultural contexts, Karin Karaka\u015fl\u0131\u2019s poetry is a beautiful expression of the human soul: with all its darkness and light, including all the many shades of emotions and thoughts in between, seeking to build a common language through poetry.
Canan Marasligil, from her introduction to Karin's Chapbook\xa0History-Geography
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