Armenia's Sorrow and We Name It the Past by Bieke Stengos

“Armenia's Sorrow” by Bieke Stengos

Pain lies buried deep within the sinew

Of the bones and flesh

Of those who still yearn

For the towers of strength

That were planted firmly

In the waving grasses

Until a cruel wind in April

Scaled the mountains

Like a mournful song

That sent the swirl of dancing skirts

To fly like dervishes

Who could not save

Women from bending over their dead children

Young men

From no longer hearing

The whisper of wind

In the almond trees

Now how can you turn back time, Ani wonders

And how can you keep abandoned churches

From bleeding into the weeping earth

 “We name it the past” by Bieke Stengos

(Inspired by “Dark Charm,” by Dorianne Laux)

we love it, we hate it

we run from it

we shun it

it leaves us indifferent

we poke it, we prod it

we feel it, we shape it

we mine it

we let it lie fallow

we live there

we die there

we drag it behind us

we name it to lose it

we name it to never let it go

it drags us

it lifts us

it haunts us

it own us

and it never leaves us alone

Bieke Stengos has published poetry and short stories and is now working on a novel that has been at the periphery of her existence for as long as she can remember. The wonderful part of having so many cultures in the mix is the rich texture; the hard part is finding a voice in English to make this come to life. You can find her work at her website: www.bieke.stengos.cammaert.eu

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