Armenian Soul

My genes

are Armenian, German, and Native American

but my soul is Armenian

and it is large and long, joyous and sad.

I carry the hopes and pain

of my ancestors,

the weight of genocide,

and the freedom of creativity.

I see the world

with my grandfather’s dark Armenian eyes.

I approach April 24*

with dread as he did.

I weep over injustice

and rejoice for compassion.

I bow my head in memory

of Soghomon* and Arshavir,*

and raise my fists for justice.

I long for Ararat,

that proud Armenian mountain,

and sigh over it being lost to us.

My soul is Armenian

and it marches in step with my ancestors.

It grows sadder with each denial,

but flickers with a glimmer of hope

that one day they will just stop denying.

I carry my soul with pride,

the pride of a lost nation.

*The Armenian genocide began on April 24, 1915.

*Soghomon Tehlirian and Arshavir Shiragian carried out the death sentences issued by a Turkish court on the perpetrators of the Armenian genocide.