My Sweet Armenia




Mount Ararat or Siss & Massis August 2017 Yerevan Armenia by Armineh Amirian Zohrabian



My Sweet Armenia


I Love my sweet Armenia’s sunbaked words,
The mournful weeping chords of our old lute I love,
The bleeding flowers and the perfumed roses I love,
And the gracious dance of the Armenian maidens I love.

I love our dusky skies, sparkling waters and brilliant lakes,
The summer sun and the howling winter blizzards,
The uninviting walls of huts lost in darkness,
And the ancient cities millennium stones I love.

Wherever I go I won’t forget our mournful songs,
I won’t forget our iron plate books of prayers,
However sharp our bleeding wounds stab my heart,
Still my orphaned and scorched Armenia I love.

In my yearning heart there is no other legend,
There are no philosophers like Narekatsi and Koochak,
Search the whole world there is no white summit like Ararat,
Like an unreachable path to glory our mountain Massis I love.





The reason I have translated this poem by Y. Charents is because I love it immensely.  He has used words that are so uniquely Armenian that it makes it very difficult to translate. For example how do you translate “ Arevaham” which can be loosely translated to “a word that tastes like the sun” or the word “Hezagegoon”  which could be badly translated to “Demure and nimble” but those are not poetic words and will not do justice to the superb language that he has used. Never the less I, being a lover of poetry especially Armenian poetry could not help myself but try. I hope you will forgive me. 

Armineh Amirian Zohrabian

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

My Brother My Love

Image
Leave the tears for last for now all I need is solace or silence No need for profundity You can sit by me  In unity  against this grave peril Wa can pretend  We’re having coffee on my porch  Talking about politics  Or cars Let’s forget for a moment  These are vailed goodbyes  Let’s reminisce  About our childhood  That seems so long ago  It may have been  A myth  Remind me that once  We were young and brave  Care free,  generous Let’s not talk about regrets  There may be too many  Don't make waiting  More unpleasant  By forced cheer  Hold my hand So I can feel your love  For all that matters now  Is love. 
Read more

Courage

Image
  When you are in the depths of despair, And you think you’ve hit bottom, You just keep on plowing deeper. When you don’t see any light at the end of the tunnel, You just keep on walking until you see the shining light. When you think all doors are closed, Even though you knocked on them all Remember, there are doors that will open just for you. When you feel you’re utterly alone, Remember, you’re never alone because God is always with you. Remember you’re a fighter, Remember you’re strong, Remember you’re resilient, Remember you have people to lean on, Remember your faith, Remember, after every storm the sun comes out And we’re blessed with a rainbow. Armineh Amirian Zohrabian February 06, 2024
Read more

THERE IS NO GLORY IN MARTYRDOM ANYMORE

Image
Mothers,  don't tell your sons to be soldiers when they grow, Fathers,  don't ask your sons to pick up your gun, To fight your wars, They don't want to inherit your enemies. Stop the cycle End the killing Much blood has been shed by now. Teach your children that we are one Teach them to share this Earth, Be tolerant and compassionate  So they learn to do the same For their fellow human beings, Teach them respect for life. Love them so they can love themselves And others. We don't need more martyrs There is no glory in martyrdom anymore. Armine Amirian Zohrabian March 03, 2013 There is no glory in martyrdom anymore
Read more