Sylva Gaboudikian
IF I DON’T LOVE YOU

Translated from Armenian by Daniel Janoyan
Glendale, July 3, 1986

If I don’t love, I don’t love you,
Why is the winter so very like spring
And the winter-sun very burning,
And the silent sky so very deep,
If I don’t love, I don’t love you?

If you don’t love, you don’t love me,
Why do people, houses, pavements, and snow
Open the way for me so very lovingly,
If you don’t love, you don’t love me?

If we don’t love, we don’t love each other,
Why are the stars so very countless,
And the days and nights so very beautiful,
And the world so very noble and friendly?
 
Armenian Poetry