kanık's interest in literature began in elementary school years. a story of his was published in the magazine "çocuk dünyası" (child's world) at this time. he met his lifelong friend oktay rıfat horozcu in seventh grade. he would make friends with melih cevdet anday a few years later, at a student show in a community center. in kanık's first year of high school ahmet hamdi tanpınar was his teacher and an early mentor providing advice and guidance. the poet published a magazine named "sesimiz" (our voice) with his friends oktay rıfat and melih cevdet during his high school years. this stage in the artist's life was when he learned and gained an appreciation of the rules and harmony of the traditional aruz meter, and wrote his first poems.