Poem: I Forgot…

By Aris Shaklian
Translated by Tatul Sonentz

I forgot, I forgot

My fairy-tale trysts

On the rosy road

Of what I was…

 

No longer do I recall

My old longings,

Each night blooming

On my pillow…

 

Even their now

Pale, white ashes

Are no longer there

 

On my dry,

Bloodless heart…

I even forgot how to cry…

 

………….. ARIS SHAKLIAN, 1925

Translated by Tatul Sonentz

 

Tatul Sonentz-Papazian

Tatul Sonentz-Papazian

Tatul Sonentz-Papazian is the former editor of the Armenian Review and director of the ARF and First Republic of Armenia Archives, based in Watertown, Mass. He has been a contributor to the Armenian Weekly for over 50 years. He currently directs the Publications Department of the Armenian Relief Society.
Tatul Sonentz-Papazian

Latest posts by Tatul Sonentz-Papazian (see all)

2 Comments

  1. British People Remember
    To Add Another Leaf to Your Red Poppy
    For The Genocided Armenians (April 24, 1915)

    Before the World War I . . .
    Our Genocide began.
    You lost young soldiers,
    Martyred with their guns,

    Who went passionately,
    Defending their Crown;
    They did not return, . . .
    Were lamented by their nation

    By parents, wives, offspring,
    And their countrymen.
    You lost your bravest men . . . and
    We felt your sadness.

    We lost almost all our Artful, Literate
    Voiceless, Devoted, Enslaved populaces
    Slaughtered . . . raped . . . dehydrated . . .
    Famineated on the sunny Der Zor sand!

    When you remember your Armistice Day*,
    Please remember, for your soldiers’ sake,
    Our slaughtered unborn sons
    Who never grew to become young men!

    They fell to defend their dignity . . .
    Their faith, yours and each honest human.
    Along with democracy . . . human rights . . .
    Awake . . . return to your faith . . .

    Remember the Armenian Genocide.
    Add another leaf to your red poppy,
    And make Remembrance Day
    More humanitarian.

    We have not yet regained our rights,
    To our historic homeland . . .
    Our Biblical Mount Ararat of civilized hearts,
    Where the martyred proud reign.

    (C) SYLVA PORTOIAN, M.D
    From my Poetry collection “A Poetic Soul Shined of Genocides” 2008
    will be published in my new collection, 2015
    “BRING-OUT Our Genocided Skulls & Artful Hands” 2015
    _________________
    *November 11, 1918

  2. Beautiful poem and Excellent Translation by poet, Tatul …
    Not easy to translate poetry …
    He was able to translate the soul…
    Congrats
    sylva

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*