THE EVE OF ASCENSION DAY1

THE EVE OF ASCENSION DAY1ByDERENIK DEMIRJIANNight with her ebon hair and starry crownUpon the hills came down.Her loosened tresses floated all unboundAnd veiled her form around.The fountain murmured like an endless taleOn her entrancing lips; and it would seemAs if God spake within the silent vale,And sleeping Earth were listening, in a dream.Like blackened clouds, in Jorokh’s stream ariseThose 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.1The Eve of Ascension Day is the time when betrothals are arranged and destinies decided.↑

ByDERENIK DEMIRJIANNight with her ebon hair and starry crownUpon the hills came down.Her loosened tresses floated all unboundAnd veiled her form around.The fountain murmured like an endless taleOn her entrancing lips; and it would seemAs if God spake within the silent vale,And sleeping Earth were listening, in a dream.Like blackened clouds, in Jorokh’s stream ariseThose 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.

ByDERENIK DEMIRJIAN

Night with her ebon hair and starry crownUpon the hills came down.Her loosened tresses floated all unboundAnd veiled her form around.The fountain murmured like an endless taleOn her entrancing lips; and it would seemAs if God spake within the silent vale,And sleeping Earth were listening, in a dream.Like blackened clouds, in Jorokh’s stream ariseThose 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.

Night with her ebon hair and starry crownUpon the hills came down.Her loosened tresses floated all unboundAnd veiled her form around.

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 taleOn her entrancing lips; and it would seemAs if God spake within the silent vale,And sleeping Earth were listening, in a dream.

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 ariseThose rocks that through her savage waters pierce;Like dragons twain, they glare with threatening eyes,Facing each other, arrogant and fierce.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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