The Wolf Epoch: Selected Poems
One of Kazakhstan’s most acclaimed poets brings readers into a world shaped by steppe winds, ancestral memory, and quiet strength. Drawn from collections such as Time of Music, Restless Heart, and Dialogue with Tengri, these selected works speak of love, time, freedom, and identity — translated into English for the first time.
Nurlan Orazalin
Nurlan Myrkasymovich Orazalin (b. June 13, 1947) is a distinguished Kazakh poet, playwright, essayist, and public intellectual whose work spans over five decades. Born in the foothills of the Tien Shan Mountains in what is now southeastern Kazakhstan, he graduated with a degree in philology from the Kazakh National University in 1970.
Orazalin’s poetry is known for its lyrical depth, philosophical tone, and vivid connection to nature. Unlike the more declarative and patriotic verse of earlier generations of Kazakh poets, his writing often reflects a quieter, more contemplative spirit, blending Kazakh themes with influences from both European and Eastern literary traditions.
In addition to poetry, Orazalin has made a lasting mark as a playwright. His verse dramas have been performed in major theaters across Kazakhstan and internationally. His theatrical works—such as Night by Candlelight, The Stone Deer, Retribution, and The Last Day—explore themes of historical memory, spiritual identity, and national resilience.
Over his career, Orazalin has published more than thirty books of poetry, essays, and critical prose. Notable poetry collections include Restless Nature, Spring Echoes, Farewell to the Century, and Green Fire—his first book in Russian. His collected works were published in a ten-volume edition in 2017.
Beyond literature, Orazalin has held significant cultural and civic roles in Kazakhstan. He served as editor-in-chief of the national newspaper Egemen Kazakhstan and has long been a leading voice in the country’s literary institutions. Since 1996, he has chaired the Writers’ Union of Kazakhstan and co-chaired the International Literary Fund, also serving as a vice president of the Commonwealth of Independent States’ Writers’ Association.
His contributions have been recognized with numerous state awards and honors from both Kazakhstan and abroad. His works have been translated into many languages, helping introduce Kazakh literature to a global audience.
Translator’s Note
Translating the poetry of Nurlan Orazalin has been one of the most rewarding challenges of my career. His verses are steeped in the history, rhythms, and soul of Kazakhstan—a poetic voice shaped by the steppe, by silence, and by profound resilience. Kazakh poetry, especially in the hands of a master like Orazalin, is not merely about conveying content—it is about preserving cadence, cultural context, and emotional clarity that emerges from a language with deep oral and nomadic roots. One significant challenge was translating imagery without direct analogues in English. Orazalin’s verses feature Tengriist cosmology, steppe metaphors, and distinctly Kazakh symbols—such as the blue wolf (kokbori), the black pacer (qara zhorga), and the dombra’s music. Rather than dilute these images, I preserved them while offering context where necessary. Rhythm presented another complexity. Kazakh poetry flows like a song, echoing the gallop of horses across the vast plains. My aim was to find an English rhythm that felt authentic to the poetic mood—to let Orazalin’s spirit speak through an English voice that still carries the urgency and intimacy of the original. This volume draws from ten different collections spanning decades of Orazalin’s career. His voice evolves over time—from lyrical witness to prophetic observer, from nostalgic to revolutionary. It is my hope that English-language readers will find not only meaning in these poems but also a window into Kazakh consciousness.