Archie Minasian: A Bald Prospect

In our youth
neigbor Sanasar and I
passed for twins.

Now that time has passed,
I wonder if we haven't taken
too long to discover
there's not a hair of truth
between us.



From "Armenian-American Poets: A Bilingual Anthology", ed. and trans. Garig Basmadjian (Detroit, MI: Alex Manoogian Cultural Fund of the Armenian General Benevolent Union, 1976).

Archie [Khatchig] Minasian: The Inner Joys

While my friends sought the glitter,
I followed my inner joys,
tramping the gardens and the wilds
in harmony with nature.
I bared my soul
and sought in return
the ways of her infinite mysteries
that nourished my questionings and desires.

I sought and was nurtured,
I to her giving and she to my quest.

I found in time that we were one,
exposed to an abiding law.

When the winds of Time arrived
and swept the weary fields and woods,
and called on all things to submit,
I too as one in harmony,
touched by the icy couriers,
knew my quest had been fulfilled
and naught remained and summoning.

"Prepare thy hearth," I thought,
"for what has been
shall surely be again
for he who cares to seek this room."

Published in ARMENIAN-NORTH AMERICAN POETS: AN ANTHOLOGY (St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Manna Publishing, 1974), Lorne Shirinian, editor.

Archie [Khatchig] Minasian: two poems

The Tiger Wind

The wind,
playing in the violets,
sprang upon me.

Oh! I thought,
if I could be so familiar
with her.


A Romp With the Wind

the wind threw rose petals at me,
tugged my hair
and pushed me around.

flattered
I ran with the wind
and called it names.
____________________________

Published in ARMENIAN-NORTH AMERICAN POETS: AN ANTHOLOGY (St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Manna Publishing, 1974), Lorne Shirinian, editor.

In 1945, Khatchik Minasian won the Edwin Markham Gold Medal for Poetry. He was born in Fresno, CA in 1913.