(1852-1872)

Bédros Tourian is one of the greatest poets of Armenian literature. He has written numerous poems and personal letters that express the spirit, and especially the pain of the Armenian people living in Western Armenia during the second half of the nineteenth century. At that time, the Armenian people were sensing the heavy yoke of spiritual and physical suffering after five hundred years of oppression. Bédros Tourian’s writings capture this spirit which was longing for freedom while in the midst of pain and suffering. Perhaps what makes Bédros Tourian’s efforts more formidable is that he completed all of his writings within a very short of period of time, and while in an unhealthy condition. He began writing very early, and breathed his last breath when he was twenty years old! For this issue we have translated one of his poems that give a glimpse of Tourian’s perspective on health and life from the midst of illness and death. Though he is not a trained theologian, yet his spirit certainly is seeking the comfort that can only come from God! The poem below was actually composed to be in the form of a cross!

[Manougn Ar Khatch]

Translated by Dér Stépanos Dingilian, Ph.D.

Oh, wooden cross!

You with four wings,

In whose forehead

The sun of love

The nailed Jesus

Breathed humbly

Spirit and light,

Love unto the world.

Receive my meek spirit! Under your arms

That radiate with glory, and teach me faith,

Love, hope, so that my bosom may always

beat with them,

And remove with your light the darkness

from my discouraged heart!

Let me learn to pray,

To turn to you

When an obstacle

In my path I meet,

The evil Satan

Who always tries,

To bewitch the spirit

Towards darkness,

Towards suffering.

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