Day: October 18, 2023

Yet again history

has decided

to visit the present.

Like always,

it has come

unannounced,

empty-handed.

Once more, we said:

“Please give us bread.”

They said here’s pain—

and we did receive it.

We suggested:

“If not food,

you may bring any gift.”

We got only poison.

We said, day by day:

“Our bodies are growing slim.”

They answered:

“Ah, you’re getting smart now.”

Perhaps we spoke too often

about our tormenter’s sin—

that’s why some understood

it as being without,

and others thought

it was their own.

We raised our voices:

“Our people are living in hell.”

The response:

“Your situation looks bright.”

We begged:

“Please protect our plot of land.”

They wondered:

“Why are you requesting fences?”

We informed them:

“Our home

isn’t safe.”

They advised:

“Then go ahead and keep 

the doors open.”

With time, we told them:

“It’s still getting too hot.”

Finally, a few understood,

but still they did nothing.

We warned: “The last

of our people are leaving.”

Oh, what a burden

this was to hear!

We suggested:

“Let’s make a list of demands.”

They thought:

“Perhaps we’re getting too cunning.”

We pronounced:

“Our enemies could be pétulant.”

I guess, in our ignorance,

we didn’t pronounce

it the right way,

sounding playful, exuberant.

We asked: “Are we not

being sensible enough?”

They said: “Yes, but still

you’re being too sensitive.”

We cautioned:

“They mean war.”

They calmed us down:

“That’s all in the past.”

We said: “It could happen այսօր.”

They heard what they wanted to hear:

“We’re too much of an eyesore.”

Now that everyone has left,

there’s no enemy left.

All the “occupiers” have fled.

All the “separatists” are gone.

There are no more people

to call “traitors” and “dogs.”

Glossary of terms:

Author information

David Garyan

David Garyan holds an MA and MFA in Creative Writing from Cal State Long Beach. In addition, he received an MA in International Cooperation on Human Rights and Intercultural Heritage from the University of Bologna. He has published four collections of poetry with Main Street Rag. He serves as General European Editor for Interlitq, an international online literary magazine where he has interviewed and published the work of some of the most notable writers and academics of our time, including Sari Nusseibeh, Elena Poniatowska, Susan Stewart, Harry Northup and Clifford Ando, among others. His poem, “Open Letter to the Students of Brandeis University with Bibliography,” published in Volume 11 of The American Journal of Poetry, was praised by Joyce Carol Oates and promoted on her official Twitter page. He lives in Trento.

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FRANKLIN, Mass.—The Armenian Youth Federation-Youth Organization of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (AYF-YOARF) held its annual senior seminar over the weekend of September 29-October 1 at Camp Haiastan, with over 60 attendees from across the region. Given the circumstances facing our homeland, the weekend’s lectures, activities and discussions were centered on the current reality and future of Artsakh and Armenia—under the theme: “Ժողովուրդիս հետ՝ հայրենիքիս համար” / “With my people, for my homeland.” This served as an opportune moment to come together, discuss the state of our homeland and figure out ways of moving forward as a people and as a nation. 

Succumbing to gruesome living conditions imposed by Azerbaijan’s violent and genocidal regime, the Armenians of Artsakh have faced unimaginable realities since 2020, and recent developments have exacerbated the already profound pain. Emboldened by the silence of the international community, funded and supplied by world powers who failed to uphold the very tenets of democracy and freedom they are founded on, and driven by deplorable motives and means, Azerbaijan’s acts of violence and terror against Armenians have been an ongoing testament to their attempts at the ethnic cleansing of our people, all while claiming our lands as their own. 

With all this in mind, the lectures at this year’s seminar consisted of engaging topics related to Artsakh. The purpose of the weekend was to inspire our membership and to remind ourselves of the resilience of our people, the power in our unity, and the importance of upholding our enduring commitment to Hai Tahd and our fight for a free, independent and united Armenia. 

AYF Senior Seminar participants listening attentively during a lecture

The seminar began with a lecture by attorney, author and activist Sarig Armenian on international law and the geopolitical realities of the region. Beginning with the framework of key theories, Armenian introduced important legal and geopolitical ideas and defined them in the context of Armenia and Artsakh. She described the needs of a functioning nation in a hierarchical diagram, in which civil society is founded on national security, followed by economic security, democracy and education, respectively. She explained that national security encompasses territorial integrity, secure borders, relations with neighbors, internal security, military and intelligence – all of which are critical in establishing a functional statehood, which cannot be built primarily on democracy. An important facet of national security strategy that was touched upon was the way in which those in power project ideas to the populace, which we’ve witnessed throughout the reign of Armenia’s current regime. Armenian then focused on the key players in Armenia and Artsakh’s geopolitical situation, including bordering neighbors, regional actors and major powers. She discussed the role of pan-Turkism and pipeline politics as driving forces of the conflict. This sparked a conversation about the likelihood of the construction of the “Zangezur Corridor,” a road connecting Azerbaijan to Nakhichevan through Meghri, and its possible repercussions for Armenia. Armenian concluded her lecture by explaining our role, organizationally and individually, in paving a future for Armenia. She said that we must transform our vision and strengthen our community, by rebuilding a stronger, resilient and antifragile organization. 

ANC Artsakh Executive Director Gev Iskajyan during his pre-recorded presentation

Armenian’s lecture was followed by a pre-recorded interview from September 15 with ANC Artsakh Executive Director Gev Iskajyan. During the interview, Iskajyan shared his on-the-ground experience in Artsakh. He highlighted the sheer strength of our compatriots and the hardships they endured under blockade. He explained the importance of the work carried out in the diaspora and how the responsibility of guaranteeing a future for Armenia and Artsakh falls on each of our shoulders. He emphasized our agency in building and maintaining our nation. Iskajyan’s powerful sentiments were followed by cybersecurity and field medicine activities, in which members had the opportunity to explore two fields and learn ways in which we can professionally dedicate our work to the betterment of our homeland. 

The next lecture, presented by George Aghjayan, was about the ARF’s vision of peace. He warned against the implications of the defeatist mentality of Armenia’s current leadership, which was solidified by the war in 2020 and most recently, the devastating outcomes of Azerbaijan’s latest acts of aggression. Aghjayan stressed the importance of fighting for the recognition of the crimes committed against our people and the inherent right of our people to live on our homeland. His lecture concluded with a broad discussion about repatriation, maintenance of a strong diaspora and the importance of bridging the gap between diasporans and Armenians living in Armenia.

Alex Avaneszadeh discussing solidarity and building networks

Alex Avaneszadeh concluded the lectures and spoke about solidarity and effective ways of protesting. He touched upon the importance of building networks and legitimizing our narrative in others’ eyes through such channels of support. Avaneszadeh differentiated between positive framing and negative framing – the former focuses on building relations with indigenous groups who experience similar struggles, while the latter focuses on building relations with groups who do not have our same interests at heart. 

This was followed by a discussion, through which members were given a forum to speak about the current reality our people are facing and our role as diasporans and AYF members in paving a direction forward. We talked about the importance of staying geopolitically informed and educating others, strengthening our communities, increasing engagement among Senior and Junior members, starting dialogue with Armenians in Armenia, spreading political awareness and literacy, and working more closely and frequently with AYF members in other regions. Closing in on the issue of apathy, we brainstormed ways of increasing engagement within the organization – by facilitating conversation and action at chapter meetings. Finally, we spoke at length about prioritizing the work we can carry out for the homeland. We discussed the importance of prioritizing the social and national security of Syunik and helping the families living there to become self-sustaining given the real threat of war they face. We agreed that we should advocate for better social welfare and social security programs in Armenia through our respective networks. 

Ultimately, the lectures, activities and discussions throughout the weekend provided an outlet for our attendees to express their thoughts, feelings and ideas. The sentiments and takeaways perfectly embodied this year’s theme this year of “Ժողովուրդիս հետ՝ հայրենիքիս համար”  (With our people, for our homeland). Ultimately, members walked away feeling inspired and motivated to work together, recognizing that our work is far from over—our struggle continues for as long as we do. It’s our responsibility to help build a stronger Armenia for future generations to come, one that includes Artsakh, Javakhk, Nakhichevan and Western Armenia. “Պայքա՛ր, պայքա՛ր մինչեւ յաղթանակ։”

Author information

AYF-YOARF

Founded in 1933, The Armenian Youth Federation is an international, non-profit, youth organization of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF). The AYF-YOARF Eastern United States stands on five pillars that guide its central activities and initiatives: Educational, Hai Tahd, Social, Athletic and Cultural. The AYF also promotes a fraternal attitude of respect for ideas and individuals amongst its membership. Unity and cooperation are essential traits that allow members of the organization to work together to realize the AYF’s objectives.

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Join Tato and her family as they help Bábo (grandmother) on rug-washing day in this sweet and playful picture book tribute to Armenian cultural traditions.

Little Tato sneaks a few cherry plums before racing off to help Bábo, her grandmother, with a favorite chore. Each year Tato looks forward to washing the family rugs. With bubbles and suds floating like clouds and snowflakes, Tato, her siblings and a friend help Bábo scrub the rugs clean.

With lively text and vivid illustrations, Astrid Kamalyan brings her charming childhood memories to life by inviting young readers to spend a day full of fun and love with an Armenian family.

Back matter includes more information about the Armenian carpet-weaving tradition, an author’s note and a glossary of words from the Artsakh dialect.

BÁBO is a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection and has earned starred reviews from Kirkus, The Horn Book and Publishers Weekly.

Astrid Kamalyan

“Tato, a young Armenian child, eagerly awaits rug-washing day.

As Tato gathers with siblings and neighbors outside under the watchful eye of Bábo (grandma), the space transforms into a lively playground where the children wash rugs. The book captures the essence of childhood, depicting the sheer thrill of jumping, scrubbing, and playing with bubbles and water. With compelling descriptions and inspired metaphors, young Tato paints a vivid picture of textures, smells, and sights. ‘Bounce clouds!’ ‘Snowflakes!’ squeals Tato as a sudsy foam forms. Tato is bigger and more mature since the last rug-washing day and gets to prove it by helping out when the chickens get loose. Cultural elements are seamlessly woven throughout the book, from the significance of a wedding gift rug to the apricot pie that delights the hardworking children at the end of the day. The intricate, vibrant rugs pop in the beautiful, earth-toned illustrations. Filled with action and dramatic angles, the art brings this tale to life and adds whimsy to the text. Armenian words in the Artsakh dialect are interspersed and explained in a glossary. In an author’s note, Kamalyan discusses how her own grandmother and her experiences growing up in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, inspired this story.

An enchanting celebration of heritage and childhood joy.” — Kirkus, Starred Review

“A young girl describes a beloved summertime-tradition for her Armenian family. Guided by Bábo, or Grandmother, four children jump into action to ‘soak, soap, and wash’ their treasured family rugs. The three siblings and a neighbor know exactly what to do: they gather their brushes, smother the rugs in bubbles and water, and brush the suds out before flipping the rugs over for a second cleaning. The kids and a dog twirl, slide, and dance together over the frothy surfaces. When at last the rugs are rinsed and drying, everyone goes inside for a special summertime treat. The text invites every sense to the experience: the sounds of the brushes (‘bop-bop-bop’), the smell of the hot air (‘like rose jam’), and the feeling of bubbles under toes (‘so pleasant and just a little cold’). The digitally rendered illustrations are lively and full of specificity; occasional aerial views show the intricate details of the traditional hand-woven rugs. A glossary provides translations and pronunciations of Artsakh Armenian words peppered through the text; the author’s note and back matter provide more information about this story and the traditions behind it. A lovely reminder that fun can be found in the most seemingly mundane of tasks.” — The Horn Book, Starred Review

Anait Semirdzhyan

“Seldom has a domestic chore looked as irresistible as rug-washing does in Kamalyan’s buoyant family tale. The outdoor ritual takes place under the watchful eye of grandmother Bábo as, ‘on the sunlit street…we will soak, soap, and wash the rugs.’ There, Tato the narrator, along with siblings and a neighbor, all portrayed with pale skin, make a game around textiles spread out for their annual cleaning. Once the soapy rugs have been jumped on and scrubbed, ‘Swoosh. We glide./ Swoosh. Droplets splash…./ We twirl. Bubbles pop-pop-pop.’ More about the heirlooms is revealed: as they work on ‘Mom’s favorite rug,’ a sibling explains that it was a wedding gift from Grandpa. Semirdzhyan’s lively illustrations, digitally rendered to mimic pencil and watercolor, retain a looseness in keeping with action-oriented text as the work leads to satisfaction: ‘We all bit into sunny apricot pie. Powdered sugar flies.’” — Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

Astrid Kamalyan comes from a big, happy family and is the oldest of five. She spent most of her childhood in Armenia. As a child, she wished she could one day paint the beautiful mountains of Artsakh. Now she paints with words and writes for the most important people in the world—kids. Astrid holds an MBA degree from the American University of Armenia. She currently shares her time between Chicago and Yerevan, Armenia.

Anait Semirdzhyan is an illustrator with a passion for children’s books. She grew up in a multicultural family and has lived in several countries with diverse cultures. Now she lives in the Seattle area with her husband and twin daughters. Anait enjoys afternoon walks with her four-legged shaggy friend.

BÁBO is sold at bookstores across the United States, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Penguin Random House, Bookshop.org and Abril Books, which is donating a portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book towards organizations that aid forcibly displaced families from Artsakh.

Author information

Guest Contributor

Guest contributions to the Armenian Weekly are informative articles or press releases written and submitted by members of the community.

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