Dead Poets Society Entry #10, Paruyr Sevak

My tenth entry is the on-going 'Dead Poets Society' series is "Succession of Generation" by the late Armenian poet Pauyr Sevak (1924-1971). It may come as a surprise to some of you that a Turkish-American is posting a poem by an Armenian, but I do have some Armenian friends.

I would mention who they are, but that might cost them some Armenian friends!

There are many active writers of Armenian heritage out there, including Canadian novelist Ara Baliozian and author/playwright/actor Eric Bogosian, whose play "Talk Radio" is currently being revived on Broadway.

Here is today's poem:

"Succession of Generation"

Every generation

first of all thinks in silence

and then as soon as talking begins

angers the elders

angers then but without intended malice

for the young do not understand

and the elders always understand

Elder God,

is it true that he who understands and

he who doubts

are synonomous

and every generation

dies by doubting?

 

For more info on Ara Baliozian, who was mentioned earlier in this entry:

http://baliozian.blogspot.com