A week after the Failed Military Coup, you go south to Olympos. You'recamped out with the book and all your keşke. Vine-covered. Ruins falleninto green river water. A week after the Failed Military Coup, some of yourfriends are banned from leaving the country. Word has just come throughthat you're exempt. You feel guilty for having worried over an upcoming tripto Scotland to celebrate your birthday. You meet Tarkin from Diyarbakır,who sells mussels on the beach, and you feel utterly alone for the first timein four years. You'll feel guilty for thinking about this, too. A week afterthe Failed Military Coup, broad-faced women in headscarves are makinggözleme ("observation"—"do you remember—?") that you eat on the beach.The Turkish Word of the Day is insan hakları—human rights. Bahane meansexcuse. Korkak means coward. He talks of Syrian refugees before he fucksyou. The Failed Military Coup doesn't give you "perspective." You don'tneed prayers. A week after the Failed Military Coup, the water is warm. Youthink about keşke when you float—suspended in salt and sea—absorbingdifferences in light transmission efficiency. Code names. A week after the FailedMilitary Coup, Turkish words for "freedom" and "democracy" tattoo theheadlines. You don't know the word for "disappointment"— orwhat is                     inverse of—                                                                                — keşke —