Dedicated to Ara’s friend

Vaհe H Apelian

Today Ara Mekhsian posted a beautiful poem in his superb poetic language. I have always remained amazed that Ara Mekhsian has retained such a rich Armenian vocabulary and diction. The poem that he posted is titled “Faithful Friend”.

His poem reminded me of the Armenian classic song by Ashough Jivani, who in my mind is the Armenian version of a troubadour, the folk singer, songwriter who not only wrote the lyrics and composed the music for his songs, but also often sang himself. 

Ashugh Jivani is known for his song titled “ The Pari (kind), Keghetzig(beautiful), Arakini (virtous), Ungereh Martoun (man's friend).” 

The song nowadays is also sung in appreciating a comrade of a common cause. The Armenian language is gender neutral. Consequently, the song can be sung on such occasions. But it is claimed that Jivani dedicated his song to his wife. The lyrics give credence to the claim. Jivani lived from1846–1909. It is not likely that in the patriarchal manly Armenian culture, especially among the ordinary people Jivani came from, would have used attributes he used as kind (pari), beautiful (keghetzig), virtuous (Arakini), ungereh Martou (friend of the man) in reference only to a bosom male friend. Although the word “man” is used in its genderless sense, I believe, Ashough Jivani refers to a male's female friend, rather than a male friend. 

In the first two sentences of the song Jivani says, “the kind, beautiful, virtuous friend of a man, brightens his image like a sun”. He ends the song addressing himself and notes, “Ashugh Jivani, whoever has such a bosom friend, not a single strand of his hair will whiten”, and in middle he claims "if you devote your life to the good friend, still is not enough."  The song remains popular.

՚Although Ara Mekhsian made an introductory note to his poem that his poem is not specifically for his wife. But I will take the liberty and make the exception, and dedicate Ashoush Jivani’s song to Ara Mekhsian bosom friend, his wife Debra, whom my wife and I have not had the pleasure of meeting in person. I imagine Ara Mekhsian will not mind.

I have linked to the song and attached the lyrics.

I attached the literal translation of the poem 

A good, beautiful, virtuous friend

Makes a person's image shine like the sun,

When a person has a faithful friend by his side,

The dark night, like daylight passes for the person.

 

It is not enough to dedicate your life to a good friend, 

Who is the spiritual lamp of the person,

A friend, I say, a steadfast, a true friend,

That always elevates the person.

 

When enemies come upon him,

A brave, close friend is a person's sword,

Whoever has a close friend, a lively soul,

Not a single hair of his weathers .

 

 Բնագիրը՝ 

Բարի, գեղեցիկ, առաքինի ընկերը մարդուն

Փայլեցնում է արևի պես պատկերը մարդուն,

Ինչ մարդ ունենա յուր մոտը հավատարիմ ընկեր,

Ցերեկի նման անցնում է մութ գիշերը մարդուն։

 

Կյանքդ նվիրես ընկերի լավին, քիչ է դարձյալ,

Այնպես է հոգեկան լուսատու լապտերը մարդուն,

Ընկեր եմ ասում, հաստատակամ, ճշմարիտ ընկեր,

Որ բարձրացընե աստիճանը միշտ վերը մարդուն։

 

Թշնամիները իր վերա գալած ժամանակը,

Կտրիճ, հարազատ ընկերըն է սուսերը մարդուն,

Ով որ ունենա մտերիմ ընկեր, Ջիվան աշըղ,

Չի սպիտակիլ ամենևին մեկ հերը մարդուն։