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Manjikian: An Early March Morning

It’s close to 4 a.m. I hear small cries as I emerge from a deep sleep. The sounds are not urgent or dramatic yet. Before they escalate, I know it is time for me to cradle your warm little body in my arms pressed against my chest. I force my eyes open and stumble to reach your crib and bring you to me. The room is almost pitch dark, but you manage to find your way straight to the source and latch on to your island, a respite from floating dreams. I may be your island, but you have become my anchor.

'For now, welcome the dawn, sweet one.'
‘For now, welcome the dawn, sweet one.’

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Lalai Manjikian

Dr. Lalai Manjikian is a humanities professor at Vanier College in Montreal. Her teaching and research interests are in the areas of immigration and refugee studies, media representations of migration, migrant narratives and diaspora studies. She is the author of Collective Memory and Home in the Diaspora: The Armenian Community in Montreal (2008). Lalai’s articles have been published in a number of newspapers and journals including The Armenian Weekly, Horizon Weekly, 100 Lives (The Aurora Prize), the Montreal Gazette, and Refuge. A former Birthright Armenia participant (2005), over the years, Lalai has been active in volunteering both within the Armenian community in Montreal and the local community at large, namely engaged in immigrant and refugee integration. She previously served as a qualitative researcher on the Armenian Diaspora Survey in Montreal. Lalai also serves as a board member for the Foundation for Genocide Education. She holds a PhD in Communication Studies from McGill University (2013).

10 Comments

  1. what beautiful writing Lalai. I am proud to know someone like you. This made me sad and happy at the same time, with what is going on in this world. God bless you all especially your little one.

  2. Շատ յուզիչ ու գեղեցիկ գրուած է։ Կը սպասեմ, որ նոյն դիւրութեամբ հայերէն ալ գրես, որպէսզի Սեւան երբ մեծնայ նաեւ հայերէն գրածներդ կարդայ։ Վստահ եմ որ կրնաս։ Ապրիս։ ՎԱԱ

  3. ՕՐՕՐ
    Խօսք՝Գամառ-Քաթիպա
    Երաժշտ Բ. Կանաչեան

    Քուն եղիր բալաս, աչերդ խուփ արա,
    Նախշուն աչերուդ քուն թող գայ վրայ :
    Օրօր իմ բալաս, օրօր ու նանի,
    Իմ անուշիկիս քունը կը տանի:

    Դուն ալ քուն եղիր, ինծի ալ քուն տուր,
    Սուրբ Աստուածամայր, անուշիս քուն տուր:
    Օրօր իմ բալաս, օրօր ու նանի,
    Իմ անուշիկիս քունը կը տանի

    [Barsegh Kanachyan – oror (Armenian lullaby)]
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nggIwYYFbg4

  4. Dearest Lalai,
    You are a talented writer and a beautiful mom. I know you will raise your child with the love of our culture and country. I am so proud of you!

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