Tag: Translation

“Nameless” by Misak Metsarents

Chris K.Leave a comment

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

Nameless

Wild flower, what’s your name?
Tell me! Sitting in the shade of a fence
Made of briars and green leaves,
Wild flower, what’s your name?

White, milky, sappy
Fragrant flower, what’s your name?
Tell me! Don’t you quiver a little
When the sweet breeze blows?

Proud flower! What’s the name
Of the spirit who passed by you,
Leaving behind waves
Of humbleness and black amber?

Do you know, flower, the name
Of the shiver brought by the breeze,
And the name of the voice calling me?

“Come” by Misak Metsarents

Chris K.Leave a comment

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

Come

Come! Make my boring life pleasurable.
Make me feel tenderness and hope.
There will come a day when your soul will mourn
the fast escape of this beautiful dream.

Come! Tomorrow, you may perish,
and I may die from a fever.
Do not extinguish the fire of my worship.

Let me imbibe the flames in your eyes.
Come close, gentle flower of my life!
Let me forget everything in a kiss.

Ah, how slow is this beautiful life!
Come! Melt the boredom of my soul.
Bury me in a beautiful dream.
Bring me your heart’s virgin caress.

“Death” by Misak Metsarents

Chris K.Leave a comment

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…”