Misak Medsarents translations from Armenian to English

“Sleep” by Misak Metsarents

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

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.

“Death” by Misak Metsarents

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…”