Leo Hamalian: "Suite for Shushanik VIII" [Explicit]

Click here to hear the poem Suite For Shushanik VIII read by Lola Koundakjian.

This poem was written by Leo Hamalian, in the voice of Arshile Gorky

VIII: GORKY'S LAST WORDS

People of Turkey, this is Arshile Gorky speaking to you,
the son of Sedrak and Shushanik Adoian.
Listen to me.
With my last breath, I forgive you.
I forgive you for driving Shushanik and her children
across the desert,
for shoeing neighbor Sarkis like a horse,
for eating Armenian babies because you were hungry,
for burning Armenian children in self-defense,
for violating Vartoosh with your thick cocks.
Your country was at war
and these acts were necessary.
Now you have our house near Aghtamar
you are rich with Armenian real-estate
and every day you get more and more
cars, radios, and American dollars.
You take vacations at the seashore.
And I, Arshile Gorky,
about to leap out of this life,
forgive you for everything.

This poem has appeared in the Summer 1997 issue of Ararat Quarterly and in the Summer 2004 tribute to Leo Hamalian (1920-2004).