Istanbul

Istanbul not Constantinople

Who would have thought, this song would become a prophesy

For today, Istanbul is for strictly for Muslims

Albeit the corrupt and false kind

The tolerance and even handedness of the Ottomans

Long gone

Istanbul is crying bitter tears

For peace and tolerance to return

In its core

The grand churches of the Byzantium

The ornate synagogues

The melodic songs

Of Ataturk: the great man of vision

who longed to bring enlightenment to this

Grand City.

The cerulean Bosporus meandering

Now tainted with shame

The soot of intolerance poured into

its streams