Istanbul (Not Constantinople)
Istanbul was Constantinople
Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Now it's Turkish delight on a moonlit night
Every gal in Constantinople
Lives in Istanbul, not Constantinople
So if you've a date in Constantinople
She'll be waiting in Istanbul
Even old New York was once New Amsterdam
Why they changed it I can't say
People just liked it better that way
So take me back to Constantinople
No, you can't go back to Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Why did Constantinople get the works?
That's nobody's business but the Turks
Istanbul (Istanbul)
Istanbul (Istanbul)
Even old New York was once New Amsterdam
Why they changed it I can't say
People just liked it better that way
Istanbul was Constantinople
Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Why did Constantinople get the works?
That's nobody's business but the Turks
So take me back to Constantinople
No, you can't go back to Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Why did Constantinople get the works?
That's nobody's business but the Turks
Istanbul
song performed by by They Might Be Giants
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Related quotes
Istanbul
Istanbul was constantinople
Now it's istanbul, not constantinople
Been a long time gone, constantinople
Now it's turkish delight on a moonlit night
Every gal in constantinople
Lives in istanbul, not constantinople
So if you've a date in constantinople
She'll be waiting in istanbul
Even old new york was once new amsterdam
Why they changed it i can't say
People just liked it better that way
So take me back to constantinople
No, you can't go back to constantinople
Been a long time gone, constantinople
Why did constantinople get the works?
That's nobody's business but the turks
Istanbul (istanbul)
Istanbul (istanbul)
Even old new york was once new amsterdam
Why they changed it i can't say
People just liked it better that way
Istanbul was constantinople
Now it's istanbul, not constantinople
Been a long time gone, constantinople
Why did constantinople get the works?
That's nobody's business but the turks
So take me back to constantinople
No, you can't go back to constantinople
Been a long time gone, constantinople
Why did constantinople get the works?
That's nobody's business but the turks
Istanbul
song performed by by They Might Be Giants
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Transition In Building Worship Utilization
Aya Sophýa Istanbul
church built to honour our God
became prime model
for all mosques to honour Allah
Hagia Sophia Greek
Holy Wisdom
Sancta Sophia Latin
Sancta Sapientia Turkish
designed by the Greek
scientist Isidore of Miletus
who taught physics
in Alexandria Egypt
then Constantinople Bosporus
and Anthemius of Tralles
a Greek professor of Geometry
in Constantinople Byzantium
string construction of ellipse
conic sections elaborate vaulting
of Hagia Sophia incorporate theories
of famed Heron of Alexandria?
utilized to address challenges
presented by problematic building
an expansive dome over large spaces
designed by a physicist
and a mathematician
completed in 537AD rebuilt
by 563 after an earthquake
Aya Sofya an Orthodox
patriarchal basilica
from date of its dedication
in 360 until 1453
serving as cathedral
of Constantinople except
between 1204 and 1261
when it was converted
to a Roman Catholic cathedral
under powerful Latin Patriarch
of Constantinople as the Western
Crusader established Latin Empire
Aya Sofya a mosque
from 1453 until 1931
then secularized opened
as city museum in 1935
now a museum in Istanbul
Aya Sofya 1093 years
principal cathedral
of Constantinople
almost 500 years
principal mosque
of Turkish Istanbul
Hagia Sophia served
as a model for many
other Ottoman mosques
the Kılıç Ali Paşa Mosque
the Rüstem Pasha Mosque
the Şehzade Mosque
the Süleymaniye Mosque
the Sultan Ahmed Mosque
famous Blue Mosque of Istanbul
your vaulted dome planned
to surpass expansive spaces
mirror symbolic ascent into heaven
Aya Sofya famous massive dome
considered an amazing epitome
of surviving Byzantine architecture
changed concept history of architecture
largest cathedral in entire world
for over a thousand imposing years
until Catholic Seville Cathedral
Europe finally completed in 1506
1402-1506 a century in building
history abounds in massive building faith
building faith erected to honour God
transition in building worship utilization
poem by Terence George Craddock
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Praise God As Blessed Peacemakers
Aya Sophýa Istanbul
church built to honour our God
became prime model
for all mosques to honour Allah
after Islamic invasion of Istanbul
Constantinople Byzantium fell
all houses of God
are sacred holy places
no true worshipper
will suicide bomb any worshippers
no true worshipper
makes war on poor women children
enlightened souls
tolerant compassionate peace lovers
praise God as blessed peacemakers
embrace all races as God’s children
respect honour all cultures religions
knowing only God in authority judges
poem by Terence George Craddock
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To Lose A Battle Against Truth
It must be frightening!
Traumatic and breath taking
To lose a battle,
Against truth that pursues.
And no matter what one does,
To conquer and defeat it.
With a twist of deceit
Or a spicing done with lies.
Truth appears to strengthen.
And from it no one can hide.
Or defend against its power!
And it seems,
A creation of it is not possible.
'King Constantine of Constantinople,
Now called Istanbul and the capital of Muslim Turkey.
Did or did you not declare yourself to be the 13th Apostle? '
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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Love Shine On Earth As In Heaven Above
It is true in Istanbul
once Constantinople
east and west once did meet
now north and south must meet
there too as in a trance must
dance for prosperity peace is best
all races of humanity
honour life like dearly
beloved young wife
like an innocent baby
fed at compassion breast
this soul each human life
must hold heal console
reach up worship divinity
God love honour each thy
neighbour as self at God's request
thou art my Lord my
God whom I do love let thy
radiant compassion light
love shine on earth as in heaven above let
all human races all noble life in thy love rest
poem by Terence George Craddock
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Constantinople Line
Hey waiter
Im first class
Hey waiter
Where are we now?
Am I last
Am I last
Hey waiter
Dont talk back
These tenants speak
A travellers language
Caucasian talk
Theyre saying nothing
I see a land
As we crawl by night
I see a face
In the window in front
These stations are useful
These stations we love them
Newspaper
Encounter
Confusion
Hey waiter
Im first class
Hey waiter
What state is this?
These reptiles scream
A violent party
All art and jazz
And league of nations
I see a land
As we crawl by night
I see a face
In the window in front
The east is calling
Im feeling nervous
I love the western
Style and change
These stations are useful
These stations we love them
These stations are useful
These stations we love them
Newspaper
Encounter
Confusion
Constantinople
Red
Red star
Red
Constantinople
Red
Red star
Red
Lyrics : j kerr music : simple minds (c) emi publishing ltd reproduced without permission
song performed by by Simple Minds
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Tim
Of the infidels of the East and,
Of the Christendom's Shrines;
But the crown of your thrown is like the feet of a bear,
So be very wise to handle issues of love.
Constantinople,
Open to the gates of war!
And with the culmination of things shared around,
But this muse will teach you my King.
Tim,
You are hellenized to deceive the eyes!
But the mouth of the lion is like the place of war.
poem by Edward Kofi Louis
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Istanbul Past Present Future
Istanbul life pulse do you feel it as I do?
When you gaze upon mosaic maze
tapestry ancestry diversity ethnicity
tolerance love respect embrace diverse
humanity all souls created God miracles
Istanbul hope tolerance lessons teaches
poem by Terence George Craddock
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the Golden Horn Of Istanbul
THE ‘GOLDEN HORN’ OF
ISTANBUL
It is an inlet arm from the Bosphoros Strait,
Which stretches inwards towards the west;
And curves up like a deer’s horn, -
Known to the world as the ‘Golden Horn’!
It separates the old Istanbul’s historic city,
From its modern counterpart in the north;
Forming the world’s longest natural harbor,
A waterway almost 7.5 km long!
The harbor was once the Naval Headquarters
of the Byzantine Empire!
When a heavy chain guarded the inlet’s
entrance;
Stretching across the mouth of the ‘Horn’ entire;
From the Old City to the Galata Tower! *
The old city stands on seven hillocks, once
known as the ‘City of Seven Hills’;
And top of every rise, a temple, or a mosque
or a monument is seen, -
With its steeples, towers and minarets, the city
stands solemnly still!
Each building here has a story to tell;
In 1453 to the Ottoman Turks the city fell!
As I stood ruminating on one such high rise,
And saw the sun going down in the west;
The inlet waters appeared bathed in gold,
Glittering in the sun’s setting rays!
And at that moment I realized, as I looked at
the inlet nice and long,
How aptly it has been named, as the inlet of
‘The Golden Horn’!
-Raj Nandy
New Delhi
13 May 09
(*Galata Tower is located at the entrance of
the inlet- in the northern half of the city.
‘The Golden Horn’ waterway divides the
city of Istanbul into northern & southern
halves!)
Florence Nightingale's Crimean War Patients
The facts myth and legend.
'Florence Nightingale
laboured in Constantinople;
nursing surgical period
Crimean War casualties;
British soldiers treats
near on two weary legless years.'
November 1854 sees
Nightingale's ship arrived;
at Selimiye Barracks
in Scutari Constantinople;
modern-day Üsküdar in
present day Istanbul Turkey.
Nightingale's staff
consisting of courageous;
38 women volunteer nurses
trained by Nightingale;
could not preform miracles
wound disease death toll rises?
Death rate highest of all
hospitals in treatment region;
first winter at Scutari
4,077 soldiers there died;
ten times more soldiers
died from illnesses diseases;
than from battle wounds?
In the face of military official
administrative indifference;
Nightingale and her nurses
arrival found wounded soldiers;
badly cared for by ill equipped
overworked medical staff?
Mass infections were common
cholera dysentery typhoid;
typhus were fatal for fated many...
medicines were in short supply;
hygiene was being neglected
no equipment existed to process;
food for suffering wounded patients?
Why were conditions
at the temporary;
Selimiye Barracks
in Scutari hospital;
so fatal to patients
Crimean War during?
Simple obvious expected answers
when present developed medical;
research knowledge is applied
past conditions of overcrowding;
Scutari hospital's defective sewers
lack of adequate ventilation?
A Sanitary Commission sent
out by British government;
to hospital Scutari in March 1855
arrived approximately six months;
after lamp lady Florence Nightingale
had arrived effected treatment flushing;
out sewers improvements to ventilation?
Death rates were sharply reduced.
Florence Nightingale during
Crimean War did not;
recognize hygiene as
death cause predominant;
Florence Nightingale
never claimed credit;
for personally helping
to reduce death rate?
Florence Nightingale
was angelic compassion;
lady with the lamp an
angel visitation in nightmares;
during agony death nights
when fear gripped dying hearts;
truth is legend accolades?
Who perpetuated
until recently held myths;
which commonly asserted
Nightingale reduced;
death rate from 42% to 2%
by making improvements;
in hygiene herself personally
called in Sanitary Commission?
The Dictionary of National
Biography first edition of 1911;
made this claim unsubstantiated
second edition in 2001 did not?
Fabulous legendary achievements
of early great heroic innovators;
is best honoured in truth plain
lamp nightly angelic visitations?
poem by Terence George Craddock
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A Byzantine Nobleman In Exile Composing Verses
The frivolous can call me frivolous.
I've always been most punctilious about
important things. And I insist
that no one knows better than I do
the Holy Fathers, or the Scriptures, or the Canons of the Councils.
Whenever he was in doubt,
whenever he had any ecclesiastical problem,
Botaniatis consulted me, me first of all.
But exiled here (may she be cursed, that viper
Irini Doukaina) , and incredibly bored,
it is not altogether unfitting to amuse myself
writing six- and eight-line verses,
to amuse myself poeticizing myths
of Hermes and Apollo and Dionysos,
or the heroes of Thessaly and the Peloponnese;
and to compose the most strict iambics,
such as—if you'll allow me to say so—
the intellectuals of Constantinople don't know how to compose.
It must be just this strictness that provokes their disapproval.
poem by Constantine P. Cavafy
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Ode To Istanbul
Ode to my soulful Istanbul
mystic place where fermented
juices producing seasoned creative process.
Rich in diverse emotive experience
stretching your fabled essence
across unread palm of countless hands.
Ode to my siren soulful Istanbul
mystic city place where fermented
lyric poem sung in proud Turkish hearts.
Hearts which embraced with cultural cups
steaming tea coffee served in countless byways
as embraced poet tread myriad layered forms.
poem by Terence George Craddock
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The terrorists who committed the 2003 Istanbul attacks were locals, that is, Turks. And when filmmaker Theo van Gogh was murdered in the Netherlands last year, the murderer and his supporters were also part of the Muslim community.
quote by Otto Schily
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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God’s Love Blessing Life Affirming Feel In Istanbul
Istanbul city of contrasts history diversity
city enigma Bosporus beautiful divide city
continents but never meaningful hearts souls
once I crossed flowing waters week days daily
proud transcontinental worker leap continents
living in Istanbul Europe working in Istanbul Asia
teaching English grammar tenses learning eyes souls
oriental scents exotic mystic swirls feel mirror minds
hold mirror images sight pierce centuries mysteries
riddles of sphinx learn layered here in humane ethnicity
civilizations customs traditions society imbue humanity
human flesh live way of life heart beats love for humanity
literal arts distinct cultures sciences God bless soul divinity
cosmos creator with a word love bless heart beating diversity
embrace all races love so much wonder felt in creation divinity
poem by Terence George Craddock
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If one had but a single glance to give the world, one should gaze on Istanbul.
quote by Alphonse de Lamartine
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Gulf Turkish Holiday Heritage
“To return at last from Turkey
with my memories safely stored
between thin clear plastic pages.”
This is all I save from Turkey
where youth beauty are service bled
lifeblood devalues faster than wages.
Its January 1991 Saddam Hussein
is finally getting his ass kicked; during
the war I remained in Istanbul but
a holiday toward the scud threatened
border was too cheap to refuse; strange
watching fearful flee direction opposite
alive adrenaline rush alive dead chickens
would give warning gas was about to;
claim take our civilian collateral damage
lives; but as written record reads scuds
were never fired into National Turkish Airspace? ;
and Andrew died of virus lung infection
a few years later caught pumping gas
at a London petrol station during cold winter;
weather we had but in brief in Istanbul.
Copyright © Terence George Craddock
Quotation from the poem ‘Turkish Heritage’.
poem by Terence George Craddock
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We spent a month in Japan last year, a week in Istanbul for the United Nations, and nearly three months in my native Nova Scotia, where my two brothers have homes; and we'll go back there this summer.
quote by Robert MacNeil
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John Kantakuzinos Triumphs
He sees the fields that still belong to him:
the wheat, the animals, the trees laden with fruit;
and beyond them his ancestral home
full of clothes, costly furniture, silverware.
They'll take it all away from him—O God—they'll take it all
away from him now.
Would Kantakuzinos show pity for him
if he went and fell at his feet? They say he's merciful,
very merciful. But those around him? And the army?—
Or should he fall down and plead before Lady Irini?
Fool that he was to get mixed up in Anna's party!
If only Lord Andronikos had never married her!
Has she ever done anything good, shown any humanity?
Even the Franks don't respect her any longer.
Her plans were ridiculous, all her plotting farcical.
While they were threatening everyone from Constantinople,
Kantakuzinos demolished them, Lord John demolished them.
And to think he'd planned to join Lord John's party!
And he would have done it, and would have been happy now,
a great nobleman still, his position secure,
if the bishop hadn't dissuaded him at the last moment
with his imposing hieratic presence,
his information bogus from beginning to end,
his promises, and all his drivel.
poem by Constantine P. Cavafy
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Istanbul, city
of dreams in the Bosphorus
sleeping blue beauty
haiku by Nizamettin Esen Haymanali
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