Eileen Manassian Poet Free verse

My Mother's Eyes- Thoughts On the Armenian Genocide

They dragged her away
Kicking and screaming
Arms outstretched towards
My little sister
Who lay dying on the ground
Her lips parched
Her eyes sunken
Her wasted arms reaching out
“Myreik, don’t leave me!”
 
My father pulled her away from 
The young soldier’s hands
The one who had violated her
The one who now sneered
“Keep moving….she will be dead
Before nightfall.”
 
I hurried after them
Stumbling through my tears
Afraid of being left behind
I turned for one last look
There she lay…her eyes closing
Left behind to join the
The dead along the path
My sister….
 
That night I didn’t hear her cry
Or complain as the soldiers
Dragged her away
She was beautiful
My mother
With eyes the color
Of the sea
Eyes that danced
And twinkled
Like stars on a clear night
Eyes that smiled
Eyes that embraced
Eyes that spoke
What words couldn’t say
I fell asleep to the sound of my father’s weeping
 
“Wake up,” I heard her say
As I fought to keep my dreams alive
My eyes fluttered open
I closed them to the hungry faces
I closed them to the filth on her dress
I searched her eyes
Calm and glassy
They looked past me
Not seeing
In them I read
No pain
No joy
No recognition
No….life!
Tears sprang to my eyes
Tears for the death of my sister’s body
Tears for the death of my mother’s soul…
 
My mother’s eyes
My mother’s eyes...
They haunt me still.

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Leo Larry Amadore April 19, 2016 at 6:48 PM Dramatic and immediately elicits empathy in the reader....This has an authentic feel to it and matches many historical accounts of the actual occurrences...certainly well written. Kudos.

Laura Breidenthal February 12, 2015 at 12:08 AM Another instant fav... the story is very sad, horrific, raw...amazing verse, Eileen. Those eyes... I am not surprised they would haunt the poor dear. "Eyes that smiled Eyes that embraced Eyes that spoke What words couldn’t say" You really put me into the poem. . amazing work once again! Always, Laura

Suzanne Delaney August 26, 2014 at 7:14 PM Eileen : Horror like this is unimaginable to someone who hasn't experienced it.....the image of a mother's-eyes and all the emotions that they convey is a powerful invocation.....thanks for writing this. Hugs, SuZ

Cyndi Macmillan August 21, 2014 at 1:44 PM Oh, Eileen. You have captured this so well. If you would like to enter this into my contest, I suggest you change the format into paragraphs, with sentences and apply any other changes for syntax (i.e. punctuation, capitalization only were applicable.) YES. Their story must be told. We must remember. It is still happening. TODAY. In Darfur.. in other areas of Africa. It is horrific. Thanks, Friend, Cyndi Eileen Manassian August 21, 2014 at 1:48 PM Thanks for taking the time to read this. Women were raped...a girl had to watch her older sister and her mother tied to poles and beheaded in a Turkish soldier's game. I read this account in Sandcastle Girls. Children in the camps were taken at night to caves and burned alive....they were marched NAKED in the desert and treated like human waste. Oh Cyndi. I will try to do something...when I have the emotional energy to go into it. Thanks for reading. Hugs

Carolyn Devonshire June 26, 2014 at 10:58 AM Soup Mail, Christine.

Richard D Seal April 26, 2013 at 6:00 PM Amen.

Timothy Hicks April 17, 2013 at 9:20 AM I don't wanna sound insincere, but I've never heard of the Armenian Genocide (though I guess we are practically on opposite sides of the globes). This was a bit painful to read, so I can only imagine what it was like to literally BE there, in that situation. How much of this is true?