Two Poems by Avik Derentz

 By Avik Derentz

Translated by Tatul Sonentz

 

This White Slaughter

This white slaughter

Saps my soul

With an alien venom of black sorcery,

As it strives to defile

My very blood

With the dark doubts of a renegade…

 

I fight each day

This murky darkness,

Despoiling half the night in a fading light,

My day retreats

In countless defeats,

How can I subside on mere penitence…?

***

Matchless Miracle

Who came up with

And meted out

So much lament and such pain

To Armenia and Armens —

Rocks and stones,

Storms of tears on both peaks

of Massis…?

 

Who came up with

And meted out

So many dreams, so much love,

To Armenia and Armens —

Countless monuments

To endless, majestic

Mysteries…

 

In fruit-scented,

Fertile fields,

Heaven-reaching proud peaks,

Sacred carvings

On ancient cross-stones —

Messages of imminent radiant days

In today’s dreams…?

 

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

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