Armenian Poems/To Love

by Bedros Tourian

A GALAXY of glances bright,
 A sweet bouquet of smiles,
A crucible of melting words
 Bewitched me with their wiles!

I wished to live retired, to love
 The flowers and bosky glades,
The blue sky's lights, the dew of morn,
 The evening's mists and shades;

To scan my destiny's dark page,
 In thought my hours employ,
And dwell in meditation deep
 And visionary joy.

Then near me stirred a breath that seemed
 A waft of Eden's air,
The rustle of a maiden's robe,
 A tress of shining hair.

I sought to make a comrade dear
 Of the transparent brook.
It holds no trace of memory,
 When in its depths I look.

I find there floating, clear and pale,
 My face! Its waters hold
No other secret in their breast
 Than wavelets manifold.

I heard a heart's ethereal throb;
 It whispered tenderly:
"Dost thou desire a heart?" it said.
 "Beloved, come to me!"

I wished to love the zephyr soft
 That breathes o'er fields of bloom;
It woundeth none,—a gentle soul
 Whose secret is perfume.

So sweet it is, it has the power
 To nurse a myriad dreams;
To mournful spirits, like the scent
 Of paradise it seems.

Then from a sheaf of glowing flames
 To me a whisper stole:
It murmured low, "Dost thou desire
 To worship a pure soul?"

I wished to make the lyre alone
 My heart's companion still,
To know it as a loving friend,
 And guide its chords at will.

But she drew near me, and I heard
 A whisper soft and low:
"Thy lyre is a cold heart," she said,
 "Thy love is only woe."

My spirit recognized her then;
 She beauty was, and fire,
Pure as the stream, kind as the breeze,
 And faithful as the lyre.

My soul, that from the path had erred,
 Spread wide its wings to soar,
And bade the life of solitude
 Farewell forevermore.

A galaxy of glances bright,
 A sweet bouquet of smiles,
A crucible of melting words
 Bewitched me with their wiles!