Tag: Western Armenian

Western Armenian Poet Misak Medzarents

“Rejection” by Misak Metsarents

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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

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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…”

“The New Year” by Misak Metsarents

Chris K.Leave a comment

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

The New Year

Tonight, the well-dressed and adorned new year
Waits for the morning light with great zeal;
Spirits forever stole the year
From our embrace the familiar voices of the old one.

The new year’s gift, the bright moonlight
Is draped on all the mountains of the village;
The songs of the old, the cries of the young
echo erratically with strong, discernible timbres.

A series of desires gripping the heart
Shake it fiercely with fiery emotions;
Ignited by these unquenchable emotions,
The burning hearts pound with longing.

In the silence of the night’s final moments
The sounds and illuminations slowly fade;
And wearing the fine linen made of the blue arch
The well-dressed new year enters the decorated world.