Sezai Karakoç

Sezai Karakoç (born 22 January 1933 in Ergani, Diyarbakır Province) is a Turkish writer, thinker, community leader, poet.

He graduated from the Faculty of Political Science at Ankara University and worked in the finance sector for many years. He is one of the pioneers of Turkish literature who aims at bridging traditional Islamic beliefs and modern poetic techniques.

He sees three essential elements for a poet. These three elements he calls Peer Gynt’s triangle, according to Karakoç, exists in Henrik Ibsen’s play, Peer Gynt. These three elements are: Poet must be himself. To be himself a poet must transform. Second element: a poet must be self content. Poet must love his art while being transformed by it. Thirdly, to be self-content, one must feel joy. This joy comes not from living but from letting live.