‘whether only this New Year,Armenia would be free…”(Photo: Araz B. Photography) New Year (Nor Tari) By: Raphael Patkanian whether only this New Year Would bring an halt to our sorrows, Evil would fade and good Would live in our hearts. whether only this New Year Armenia would be free And fields of roses would gleam Around our Mount Masis.[1] whether only this New Year The Armenian people would unite And our flag would wave atop Our fortress at Karin.[2] whether only this New Year Armenia would stand on its feet And our half-ruined Karin Would become our capital. Armenians, and never doubt That all this will be realized whether we free ourselves of small-mindedness,once and for all.[3] *** More than a century ago, famed Armenian poet Raphael Patkanian penned a short poem entitled Nor Tari (New Year), and wishing that the new year would bring an halt to Armenias sorrows. Patkanian—also known by his pen name Kamar Katibawas born in 1830 in Nor Nakhichevan,a city in southern Russia founded in the 19th century by Crimean-Armenians. He was born and lived in a very different time; a time when Armenia was not free. In his poem, Patkanian longs for a [...]
Source: armenianweekly.com