HOVHANESS SHIRAZ'S POETRY

MIRACLE NUMBER 1

Written by Hovhannes Shiraz
Translated from Armenian by Daniel Janoyan
Glendale, California, March 4, 2000

In my dreams my door was knocked at,
"Who is it?" I asked from inside.
Some elderly lady from the outside
Answered and said, "I'd sacrifice myself for you."

"I've come to ask for a piece of bread as charity
I'm a poor orphan woman with no one to support me."
At this point I opened my door immediately,
Only to find a miracle; it was my deceased mother indeed!

I was shocked but fell into her arms;
And my mother said, "It's me, it's me,
I've come to try you and to check on you.
I hope life hasn't changed your spirit and also you?!"

I came in the form of a beggar
So that the whole world can be a witness
To see if your conscience, my dear son,
If your conscience also died along with me?!"

MIRACLE NUMBER II

Written by Hovhannes Shiraz
Translated from Armenian by Daniel Janoyan
Glendale, California, March 4, 2000

In my dreams this time I saw my Dad
Who was revealed to me just like my Mom.
With full of fear and also joy, I fell into his arms
While he came out of his grave and began to caress me.

We wept in bitterness and also sweetly;
My Dad looked around,
Smiled to Mount Aragats* tenderly
And then said, "My son is alive indeed!"

But when my elderly father looked at Mount Ararat*,
He looked at me in suspicion,
"In what way can you call yourself my son
When our home is now left to be half empty?"

My Dad once again died due to sorrow and misery
And said to me, "My son, if you want me
And my soul to rest in peace,
Don't let my home be half empty...!"

* Mount Aragats and Mount Ararat are looked upon as symbols of inspiration to Armenians all over the world. Many poems, literary works, paintings and musical compositions have been devoted to these sacred mountains.

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