16
ARMENIAN POEMS.
WISHES FOR ARMENIA.
WHEN bright dews fall on leaf and flower,
And stars light up the skies,
Then tears and sparks commingled
Burst forth from my dim eyes.
Forget thee, O Armenia!
Nay, rather may I be
Transformed into a cypress dark,
And so give shade to thee!
And stars light up the skies,
Then tears and sparks commingled
Burst forth from my dim eyes.
Forget thee, O Armenia!
Nay, rather may I be
Transformed into a cypress dark,
And so give shade to thee!
The starry sky no comfort brings:
To me it seems a veil
Strewn with the tears that Ararat
Sheds from his summit pale.
O graves! O ruins! to my soul
Your memory is as dear
As to the lover's thirsting heart
The maiden's first love-tear.
And shall my spirit after death
Oblivions be of you?
Nay, but become a flood of tears.
And cover you with dew!
To me it seems a veil
Strewn with the tears that Ararat
Sheds from his summit pale.
O graves! O ruins! to my soul
Your memory is as dear
As to the lover's thirsting heart
The maiden's first love-tear.
And shall my spirit after death
Oblivions be of you?
Nay, but become a flood of tears.
And cover you with dew!
Not sword nor chains, abysses deep
Nor precipices fell,
Not thunder's roll, nor lightning's flash.
Nor funeral torch and knell—
Nor precipices fell,
Not thunder's roll, nor lightning's flash.
Nor funeral torch and knell—
