A
SONG OF FREEDOM
Translated from Armenian
by Daniel Janoyan
Nicosia, Cyprus, March, 1983
From the first day when our Lord wanted to blow breadth into me,
Granting life to my substance muddy,
I, a helpless child though, spread forward my two hands
And with helpless arms of mine
It was FREEDOM that I embraced.
Since those uneasy nights, when in the cradle I was tied,
I was crying all the time disturbing my mother’s sleeping nights.
I used to beg her all the time to leave alone my two arms,
For since that day I had vowed to love FREEDOM once for all.
Since the strings of my dumb tongue was let loose and then opened,
Since my parents, due to my voice, started laughing and making merry,
My very first words which I said were not "daddy" and "mummy"
But something more — It was FREEDOM that flew out of my innocent
childish mouth.
FREEDOM echoed from above: "If you are really willing to volunteer
For the sake of defending FREEDOM, then you must realize dear
That the road is full of thorns.
Many troubles will await you,
"Cause for those freedom-loving people
This world is very narrow of course."
"FREEDOM," I kept crying,
"Let fire and lightening and iron roar into my head;
Let the enemy have conspiracy against me,
While I am ready until death and to the gallows will I march
Echoing FREEDOM all the time."
last updated January 23, 2000