Vahan TeryanJanuary 28, 1885 – January 7, 1920

Life

Vahan Tertian was an eminent Armenian poet, lyrist and public activist. He is a famous poet known for his sorrowful, romantic poems, the most famous of which are still read and sung in their musical versions by people of all ages.

He published his first book of poems, "Dreams at Dusk", in 1908, which made

him an immediate sensation, Hovhannes Tumanian calling him the most original lyric poet of his age. He

later published "Night Remembrance", "The Golden Legend", "The Return",

"The Golden Link", "In the Land of Nairi"

Terian began his short life in the Gandzani village of Javakheti region in Russian Empire (now in Georgia). Schooled in Tiflis, he then studied at the Lazarian College in Moscow, where he was exposed to symbolism and joined the Russian Social Democrats.

Քո աչքերըԵս սիրում. եմ քո մեղավոր աչքերը խոր,Գիշերի պես խորհրդավորՔո մեղավոր, խորհրդավոր աչքերը մութ,Որպես թովիչ իրիկնամուտ։Քո աչքերի անծայր ծովում մեղքն է դողում,Որպես գարնան մթնշաղում։Քո աչքերում կա մի քնքուշ բախտի վերհուշ,Արբեցումի ոսկե մշուշ։Մոլորվածին անխոս կանչող փարոսի շող,Քո աչքերը հոգի տանջող։Ես սիրում եմ գգվող-անգութ աչքերըդ մութ,Որպես գարնան իրիկնամուտ։

I LOVE YOUR DARK AND WICKED EYES

I love your dark and wicked eyes, as deep as the mysterious evening is deep, and dark as the spell that dusk casts. I love the vast seascape of your eyes where sin hesitates like twilight before flickering past where luck and chance have been. I love your eyes, their drunken golden haze, eyes that magnetize the lost like wordless beams and torture the soul with their pitiless caress. I love their dark and mysterious depths.

Թարգմանություն

In 1916, Vahan Terian published a bundle of poems entitled Land of Nairi, in which he uses Nairi in place of Armenia. Likewise in 1923, Yeghishe Charents wrote a satirical novella entitled Land of Nairi, using once again Nairi as a synonym for Armenia. Hayastan Yeghiazarian, interestingly, used Nairi Zarian as his pen-name, replacing his first name, Hayastan (which is what Armenians call Armenia in their own language since the Late Middle Ages) with Nairi.

Works in Russian1903-12, Dreams of The Dawn1903-12, Crown of Thorn1908-11, Night and

Reminiscences1908-11, Golden Tale1911, Return1912-19 Golden Chain1917 Cat Heaven1917-19, Songs of Freedom1912-19, Land of Nairi1913-19, Misc. Poems

Works in Armenian1903-12, Dreams of The

Dawn1905-1908, Crown of Thorn1908-1911, Night and

Reminiscences1908-1911, Golden Tale1911, Return

PoetrySONG OF THE STREET____

Again under my window, a wandering singer sings a sad song I've heard long ago; sings as if I wrote that song for the singer; sings as if I wept that song for the singer; sings as if I walk down the street with yearning, singing the song and only to you.

THE LAST POET________

Am I the last singer, then, my country's last poet? Is this death or sleep enveloping you, bright Nayiri?

Wherever I walk on this earth I dream of your luminescent countryside, and your language that rings like prayer.

Rings always, deep and clear. Burns and pierces. Are those blazing roses burning? Or my fiery wounds?

Anxious. Alone. I call you. Shine on, my dream Nayiri. Am I your last singer then, my country's last poet?

Tsovi Simonian 11-1