“Death” by Misak Metsarents

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Misak Metsarents (1886-1908) was a Western Armenian neo-romantic poet. This is my translation of “Death” from Armenian to English.

Death

(The children are talking)

“Now they have passed the source.”
“Now they have gone through the garden, too.”
“Now they are at the cemetery.”
“Now they buried him…”
“Now they are reading. Does he hear?”
“Now he no longer hears.”
“Now he no longer sees.”
“Now he cannot swallow his saliva.”
“Now he cannot scream.”
“Now it’s over…”
“Now they’re returning.”
“Now he’s all alone…”
“Now he won’t come back.”
“Now he won’t come back.”
“Now he won’t come back.”
“Now he won’t come back…”

Chris Khatschadourian smoking an Oliva V Melanio Figurado cigar at Fidel Cigars.

Have a Cigar: Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado

Chris Khatsch6 Comments

Name: Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado

Country: Nicaragua

Size: (6 1/2 inches x 52)

Strength: Medium to Full

A bearded man with an aquiline nose,
with blue eyes turned grey from the cold,
sinks in a leather armchair after a long day.

He exhales the world slowly
and inhales solitude.
At last! he finds himself in a lounge
where thoughts don’t leak from mouths,
where ideas don’t turn to noise.

He calls the waiter and says,
“Please bring me an Islay whisky.
I would like to taste earth and fire.”

As he waits for his drink,
he pulls out a cigar
from the inside pocket of his jacket
and smells it.
Then he cuts it, licks it, lights it,
and leans back in his chair.

The whisky comes.
The smoke rises.

The man enters his cave.

*****
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Have a Cigar: Ashton Aged Maduro No. 40

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Name: Ashton Aged Maduro No. 40

Country: Dominican Republic

Shape: Parejo

Size: Toro (6 inches x 50)

Strength: Mild to Medium

My wife invited a couple of her friends over last night, so I decided to head out. Though I don’t mind listening to the birds chirping in the living room, I prefer having a cigar and a drink with someone who knows the value of cave time.

I called my good friend George to see if he was up for a drink and a smoke. He was.

“But I don’t feel like going out,” he said. “Instead, you can come to my place, and we can smoke on the balcony.”

“Sounds like a plan,” I said.

“It’s cold, though,” he added. “But that won’t stop us, will it?”

I put on my boots, a good jacket, and a beanie. I made sure the fire was strong in the fireplace for the ladies to stay warm. I picked up an open bottle of Armenian brandy from the shelf and left.

I returned home after a couple of hours, happy.