Mourning the Dead
The slowly-moving torchlight memorial procession
passes through the darkened streets of Yerevan.
It is a somber and cold winter’s night.
It seems far more chilling than usual.
We are mourning our precious dead.
These soldiers and civilians,
our brave Armenian brethren,
sought to keep alight the historic flame of Hayastan.
Together we feel our profound collective grief.
We wipe aside our tears,
and pray for a better day.
Prayers, however, are not enough.
Tomorrow we must come together
to protect our families
and defend our cherished homeland.
So we begin anew,
as our ancestors so often had to do.
Despite the great odds,
we shall prevail.
Alan Whitehorn
December 28, 2020 – January 4, 2021
Alan Whitehorn is an Armenian-Canadian poet and a professor emeritus of political science.
