Yağmur ÇETİN

The tradition, which started as bard-baksı and continued with minstrels in Anatolia, has continued its existence until today within the integrity of the rules. The tradition of Minstrelsy, which continues to exist in Anatolia until today, continues to be a cultural heritage with its unique performance and versatility. The tradition of minstrelsy is to transfer the lifestyle and perspective on life, ethical and aesthetic values of the period in harmony, from the lowest to the highest strata of the people. Minstrels, who have instruments in their hands and words on their tongues, and who travel from place to place and become the spokesmen of the society in which they live, appeal to the emotions of the listeners by telling poems, epics and folk stories in the language of the people. These products performed by minstrels are told from generation to generation, either in writing or orally, over the centuries. Folk poet Kâtibi, who is the subject of this article, got married after completing his university education in Istanbul, returning to Artvin and starting to work as an engineer. Kâtibi, who said that people should both receive a good education and read versatile books in order to be useful to society, ensured that his three children received a good education. Kâtibi, who followed the tradition of minstrelsy in Artvin since his childhood, wrote his first poems with the support of his teacher. Kâtibi, who was the spokesperson of Artvin during his life, also shared his poems in various newspapers, magazines and Facebook pages. He expressed his love for nature with beautifications; He also criticized those who murdered nature for their own interests with satire. Kâtibi, who says that he has been writing poetry for fifty years without hesitation, states that this work comes from the heart, that is why he does not force himself while writing poetry, and that a poem written by force will not be a poem. He says that he does not attach much importance to the number of syllables and rhyme, and that he likes to share his current thoughts with the public. Our main aim is to examine the poems sent to us by Kâtibi, who attaches importance to meaning rather than harmony, in terms of structure and meaning within the poetry tradition living in Artvin.

Keywords: Artvin, Kâtibî, minstrelsy tradition, folk poetry, the art of poetry.