this attempt
this invictus challenge
to focus centuries of armenian grief
into what? one poem?
it exists already,
for our Job of a nation
it is part of our hearts, our souls,
etched into our genetic core
and infused in almost every poem
every prayer, sad story, dirge,
and bloody crusted bits of family lore.
this totality, this essence,
of our deep, dark, abiding grief
is focused through a collective lens
to a perfect, intense, white hot spot
where it is alloyed, formed, and forged
to our resilient captaining of
our undying perseverance
our enduring hope and faith
megha asdoudzo
der voghormia
park asdoudzo
march 12, 2023
