Background
Berk was born in Manisa, Turkey in 1918 and as a child witnessed the Fire of Manisa.
Berk was born in Manisa, Turkey in 1918 and as a child witnessed the Fire of Manisa.
He graduated from the French Language Department of Gazi University in Ankara.
He was a dominant figure in the postmodern current in Turkish poetry (termed, "İkinci Yeni". "The second new generation") and was very influential among Turkish literary circles. He received a teacher"s training in Balıkesir.
Between 1945-1955, Berk served as a teacher.
He later began to work for the publishing office of Ziraat Bank as a translator (1956–1969). He became specialized in translation of poetry notably by translating into Turkish works by Arthur Rimbaud and Ezra Pound.
In his later years, Berk resided in Bodrum where he died on 28 August 2008.
Berk"s poetry evolved from the approach of an epical socialist to the dreamy vision of a lyrical and erotic individual.