My Faith, I am not a Painter, I am a Woman, Not a Fool

Armenian News Network / Groong
May 17, 2008

By Tanya Hovanesian , translated by Diana Der-Hovanessian

⚠ This is an archival article originally published on May 17, 2008. Information may be outdated.

MY FATE

By Tanya Hovanessian

My fate was to live as a human called the most able after God. My fate was to live in this fearful century. My fate was to have a dream I could not reach and to die without kissing even your eyes.

I AM NOT A PAINTER

but if I could just paint my eyes on canvas calling it Sadness I’d be famous.

I AM A WOMAN NOT A FOOL

I know that fire burns but even so I stretch a finger. Even so I know poison drips from both your eyes so why am I handing you my heart, even so?

Tanya Hovanesian , translated by Diana Der-Hovanessian

Author bio at time of publication

TANYA HOVANESSIAN was an Armenian poet born in Gyumri and died in the earthquake of 1988. She was one of the most promising young poets of the time.