Category: Translations: Armenian to English

“Philosophers” by Levon Shant

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Levon Shant (1869-1951) was an Armenian poet, playwright, and novelist. This is my translation of “Philosophers” from Armenian to English.

Philosophers

Under the bright full moon,
in the distance, in the bosom of the field,
white, hunchbacked mountains
lean on each other’s heads.

Mountains? Who said so? They’re
grey-haired, brooding ravens
that have come together
wrapped in sheets.

And their serious, ugly faces
are lost in deep thought.
Maybe they’ll find the meaning
of being and the world.

Misak Medsarents translations from Armenian to English

“Sleep” by Misak Metsarents

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Misak Metsarents (1886-1908) was a Western Armenian neo-romantic poet. This is my translation of “Sleep” from Armenian to English. It was written sometime between 1901 and 1903.

Sleep

A cold, quivering Fall
is panting in my soul.
The night falls. The book of life
cries page after page.

Sickly shivers
and feeble murmurs
fade in, fade out
in a feverish requiem.

And — poor snowbound lyre! —
my brave heart goes silent,
and even the saddle horse leaves.
Only the quivering comes to bring

suffering and pain.
My longed for flowers aren’t here.
The fragrance and enthusiasm aren’t here…

Western Armenian Poet Misak Medzarents

“Rejection” by Misak Metsarents

Chris KhatschLeave a comment

Misak Metsarents (1886-1908) was a Western Armenian neo-romantic poet. This is my translation of “Rejection” from Armenian to English. He wrote this one when he was 17 years old.

Rejection

One kiss from you would have made me happy,
But you deprived me of that soft, beautiful gift.
You spat your merciless “No” at me indifferently,
And since that day, I’ve been suffering differently.

You deprived me of that soft, beautiful gift,
And you dipped in black the beam
Of my soft smile, sometimes burning, sometimes calm.
On that day, I became an unfortunate, miserable person.

You spat your merciless “No” at me indifferently.
That sharp-edged “No” made my heart bleed.
That cold bludgeon of rejection
Wrapped my soul in black.

Since that day, I’ve been suffering differently.
The suffering destroyed and ruined my heart.
Since that day when I drank from that cup of poison,
My heart has been bleeding without stop.