JUSTICE
By Maro Margarian Translated by Diana Der-Hovanessian
There is something in this world called Justice. Its other names are Compensation and Restitution. But it is never called Punctual. On the contrary it always comes too late. Like a missed love, timed wrong, worse when it arrives than if it had never come. Causing more pain. There is something in this world named Justice that arrives late to find a new name on its door, Injustice.
TO OUR FOREMOTHERS
By Maro Margarian Translated By Diana Der-Hovanessian
What did you do, mothers, when under your tired feet only scorched land was left, dry and without seas?
Without a shepherd you were left leaderless like your sheep. The bloodied villain was soul-less and the hero, helpless and weak.
How did you rescue us, mothers, out of chaos, out of flame, to the path, the higher road, how did you find the way?
WINTER
By Maro Margarian Translated By Diana Der-Hovanessian
My fountain of songs never runs dry. Time has not sapped its singing My desires still blaze and fly. Time has not eased their stinging.
But I must sing more softly now. Cold air makes listeners cool. And childish dreams must not be told unless I play the fool.
– MARO MARKARIAN 1915-1999 Armenia’s most beloved woman poet who was also an activist for children’s rights and the Karabagh movement. Translated by DIANA DER-HOVANESSIAN in THE OTHER VOICE, Armenian Women’s Poetry, AIWA Press 2006.