Poem: The Last Day in May

The Last Day in May

It is the last day in May
And the peonies and roses
Are in bloom, releasing
Heady fragrances
Into the warm, balmy breeze.

The dandelions have retreated
And wild violets, along with
Patches of clover,
Have taken their place.

Ants are scurrying about
In the sun, the shade,
And in and out of
Little mounds between
The concrete cracks,
In the tender blades of grass.

The woodpecker has returned
To his favorite apple tree,
And a bird’s nest,
Hidden deep within the branches
Of the pine tree, has been
Ransacked, once again, by the squirrels.
In the distance, birds chirp frantically.

Near the old wooden shed
Lies a mottled, green ball—
Nearly deflated—
And in the garden next door,
A shiny, yellow tricycle
Stands under the lilac bush.

The rhythm of the garden has returned,
While from afar
The roar of lawn mowers and blowers
Rips into the symphony
That is spring.

As I walk around the garden,
I notice that one of my rose bushes,
My most cherished one—has withered.
As I stoop to touch it, a dark-blue butterfly hovers above it,
Alights on it, and then flutters away.
The wind stirs, and I recall
All the years the roses brought such wonder and joy
To my love and me.

Both he and the rose bush
Are now memories
Of a different time,
And our own special world.

They say time heals,
Of that I do not know,
At least not yet.
But I certainly do know
That life goes on,
And with it, come new days and seasons.
Yet, no matter how new,
They are always sprinkled
With memories of that special,
Sweet world for two.

Sept. 25, 2017
Yerevan, Armenia

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Knarik O. Meneshian

Knarik O. Meneshian was born in Austria. Her father was Armenian and her mother was Austrian. She received her degree in literature and secondary education in Chicago, Ill. In 1988, she served on the Selection Committee of the McDougal, Littell “Young Writers” Collection—Grades 1–8, an anthology of exemplary writing by students across the country.” In 1991, Knarik taught English in the earthquake devastated village of Jrashen (Spitak Region), Armenia. In 2002–2003, she and her late husband (Murad A. Meneshian), lived and worked as volunteers in Armenia for a year teaching English and computer courses in Gyumri and Tsaghgadzor. Meneshian’s works have been published in "Teachers As Writers, American Poetry Anthology" and other American publications, as well as Armenian publications in the U.S. and Armenia. Knarik is the author of A Place Called Gyumri: Life in the Armenian Mountains. She has also authored a book of poems titled Reflections, and translated from Armenian to English Reverend D. Antreassian’s book titled "The Banishment of Zeitoun" and "Suedia’s Revolt" She began writing at the age of 12 and has contributed pieces to The Armenian Weekly since her early teens.

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