HISTORY'S TWISTS: THE ARMENIANS

By Helene Pilibosian

Helene Pilibosian's poem touch the highlights of Armenian history from a comment on the red hair of the pagan god Vahakn and others on ancient history, as well as a poem called "Grandparent Herbs" referring to the genocide of 1915. There are a number of poems about Armenian life in Beirut and the Middle East and one entitled "I Chose the Poetic," detailing Armenian independence of 1991, which was a finalist in a NEW LETTERS literary competition.

A number of poems are written to or about the fictitious character Nazeli of Armenia, with whom the author has an ongoing correspondence. These poems are filled in with personal exchanges and researched information about Armenia including its birds, its diamond industry and its forests as well as its political past. They are lengthy narrative poems, telling a stories that can be read as if they were prose short stories.

Poems about thoughts on the Armenian alphabet, Armenian art, Armenians in America helping those in the homeland, Armenian women and artists such as Arshile Gorky, Mardiros Saryan and Mihran Manougian follow. A painting by Manougian, which belongs to the author, graces the cover of the book. 

Helene Pilibosian is the author of Carvings from an Heirloom: Oral History Poems and has won various awards for her contribution to poetry and her writing in general.

Ohan Press (2007)