Only You Were Left to Me...

by Hagop Norashkharian (Norouni)

*Translated from Armenian by Shant Norashkharian *
The following poem is from LIVING AGAIN, published in Yerevan in 1973 by Hayasdan Publishers.



I have lost now everything, except for you, Fatherland,
Only you were left to me in the entire universe,
Everything else fell victim to the ruthless misfortune...

Whatever things beautiful I had built and created,
Monuments that I had raised in the course of many years,
All suddenly were ruined under violent hammers.

Not one flower had remained from the gardens so fragrant,
Not one bud or one blossom from the fruitful orchards,
Everything has become dried...under the drought of harsh life...

...Only you were left to me, you opened your warm bosom,
And you helped that I may live, persevere and not be quenched,
That I like a tiny spark still give my light to the world...

I don't know what you still hope from me, O my priceless one...!

* * *
Translation Copyright 1996 by Shant Norashkharian

Feedback/Comments: The email address of Shant Norashkharian is:
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