Portrait poetry is defined as the verse-based description of an individual’s physical, psychological, and personality traits. Since the first period of Tanzimat literature, poets such as Namık Kemal, Tevfik Fikret, and Ali Ekrem have experimented with this genre. Fâzıl Ahmet (Aykaç), renowned for his satirical works, is also notable for portrait poems referencing literary figures, while Can Yücel’s Portreler stands as one of the first dedicated collections of verse portraits in Turkish literature. This study evaluates and analyzes the portrait poems of Fâzıl Ahmet and Can Yücel from different periods, highlighting their similarities and differences. The most prominent commonalities include a humorous style and the candid depiction of negative character traits. Regarding differences, Can Yücel addresses a more diverse range of subjects, whereas Fâzıl Ahmet’s portraits remain limited to a specific circle of individuals.
Fâzıl Ahmet, Can Yücel, portrait poetry.