POEM III

BLACK EYES

By Avetis Isahakyan
Translated by Aram Raffi and Zabelle C. Boyadjian

Do not trust black eyes, but fear them—
Gloom they are, and endless night;
Woes and perils lurking near them—
Love not thou their gleaming bright!

In my heart a sea of blood wells,
Called up by their cruel might,
No calm ever in that flood dwells—
Love not thou their gleaming bright!