Giaconda and Si-Ya-U

Nazim Hikmet - a curious piece of intriguing poetry, weaving disparate events together

to the memory of my friend SI-YA-U, whose head was cut off in Shanghai

A CLAIM

Renowned Leonardo's world-famous "La Gioconda" has disappeared. And in the space vacated by the fugitive a copy has been placed.

The poet inscribing the present treatise knows more than a little about the fate of the real Gioconda. She fell in love with a seductive graceful youth: a honey-tongued almond-eyed Chinese named SI-YA-U. Gioconda ran off after her lover; Gioconda was burned in a Chinese city.

I, Nazim Hikmet, authority on this matter, thumbing my nose at friend and foe five times a day, undaunted, claim I can prove it; if I can't, I'll be ruined and banished forever from the realm of poesy.

1928