| Michael Nalbandian |
 Nalbandian was born in Nor Nakhichevan, on the Don River, and graduated from the University of St. Petersburg. He died in exile in Saratov after being imprisoned for his political writing and incendiary poems. This poem, "Freedom", was sung secretly in both Russian and Turkish Armenia.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." |