The Eve of Ascension Day

Armenian Legends and Poems [1916] at sacred-texts.com

p. 73

THE EVE OF ASCENSION DAY ¹

BY DERENIK DEMIRJIAN

NIGHT with her ebon hair and starry crown
  Upon the hills came down.
Her loosened tresses floated all unbound
  And veiled her form around.

The fountain murmured like an endless tale
  On her entrancing lips; and it would seem
As if God spake within the silent vale,
  And sleeping Earth were listening, in a dream.

Like blackened clouds, in Jorokh's stream arise
  Those rocks that through her savage waters pierce;
Like dragons twain, they glare with threatening eyes,
  Facing each other, arrogant and fierce.

Wild Jorokh through that fearsome valley flows--
  Flows like a caravan that onward sweeps;
First roaring loud, then hushed into repose,
  Groping its way through darkness, on it creeps.

The sounds of Earth are melted into rest,
  While strikes the hour of expectation deep;
Earth's waters heave, against each other pressed,
  And breathless listening, all their vigils keep.

Decked out like lovely brides stand all the flowers;
  With nuptial joy the forests trembling wait:
Until Heaven's blessing fall in sacred showers,
  And whispering softly, each may clasp its mate.

Footnotes

73:1 The Eve of Ascension Day is the time when betrothals are arranged and destinies decided.