Avedik Issahakian

[arabaliozian]

A MOTHER’S HEART

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By AVEDIK ISSAHAKIAN

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There is an old tale

About a boy

An only son

Who fell in love with a lass.

*

“You don’t love me,

You never did,” said she to him.

“But if you do, go then

And fetch me your mother’s heart.”

*

Downcast and distraught

The boy walked off

And after shedding copious tears

Came back to his love.

*

The girl was angry

When she saw him thus

And said, “Don’t you dare come back again

Without your mother’s heart.”

*

The boy went and killed

A mountain roe deer

And offered its heart

To the one he adored.

*

But again she was angry

And said, “Get out of my sight.

I told you what I want

Is your mother’s heart.”

*

The boy went and killed

His mother, and as he ran

With her heart in his hand

He slipped and fell.

*

“My dear child,

My poor child,”

Cried the mother’s heart,

“Did you hurt yourself?”

*

(Translated by Ara Baliozian)

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