Get Your Premium Membership
Eileen Manassian
(Click for Poet Info...)

I guess you could say I'm a citizen of the world. I've traveled....and I've lived parts of my life in Iran, Lebanon, the US, and Cyprus. I am proud of my Armenian heritage. I was born in Tehran, Iran and soon after that, my family went to the States for my dad to work on his MA degree and many years later, to work on his Ed.D. I have a lot of the Middle East and the West in me, and at times....I feel confused about my identity. I do, however, cling to my Armenian roots and am outspoken about recognition by the world of the Armenian Genocide that took place over 100 years ago.

Since my parents had no common language, the language spoken in our home was English. Yes, I am most fluent in English, and I think, dream, and converse in that language, though I do speak 5 other languages to varying degrees! :)

I am melancholy/sanguine by nature and feel everything very keenly. My highs are SUPER HIGH...and my lows...SUPER LOW! I guess you could say...I'm INTENSE. I'm passionate about poetry to the point of obsession.

The events that have colored my life are the death of my mother due to MS and the war in Lebanon. As a child, it was hard for me to come to grips with the fact that my mother was ill, and to see her go from being a vibrant, well-loved teacher to a wheelchair bound, isolated woman was a very harrowing experience. I do believe, though, that there is a resurrection day and that, by His grace, I will see my Mama fully restored...free of wheelchair, able to sing, laugh, and smile again. The war in Lebanon...bombs landing all around, nights spent in bomb shelters.. has also scarred me to some degree.

What I'm most proud of? That would be my daughter...Shereen Natalie Ghali. She is the light of my life. Her name in Farsi means SWEET! :)

Currently, I teach English at Middle East University in Beirut, Lebanon. Poetry Soup has been a haven for me....most of the time! ;) I've developed amazing friendships here that are very genuine and real. My dream is to one day have my name on a volume of poetry! One can always dream....Thank you for making the effort to get acquainted. God bless!


 

Thanks!

Blog Posted by Eileen Manassian: 8/4/2025 5:34:00 AM
A great big thanks to those of you who congratulated me on my POTD. It has been a while since I had this honour. I was getting rather discouraged as so few seem to be reading my poems, so this was a big boost to my morale. I'm sorry I can't respond to all of you today. In a few hours I'll be traveling to Cyprus to be with my daughter for two weeks. I am sorely in need of this time away. I will comment when I'm able. Please know that I do appreciate the love and encouragement. Blessings, Eileen


Please Login to post a comment

Please stay on topic with your comments. Off topics comments may be removed. Thanks.



Characters Remaining:
Type the characters you see
CAPTCHA
Change the CAPTCHA codeSpeak the CAPTCHA code
 

Date: 8/4/2025 7:33:00 AM
Eileen, enjoy every minute of your time with your daughter and time AWAY from what is an overload of stress. Your POTD should've resonated with everyone who read it, and still I see, as you put it, 'feigned affinity.' You are a source of true encouragement for all who know and love you. Have a safe journey to and from Cyprus.
Login to Reply

Previous Blogs

 
Thanks!
Date Posted: 8/4/2025 5:34:00 AM
Thanks and a Request
Date Posted: 7/8/2025 1:21:00 PM
Happy Birthday, Richard!
Date Posted: 9/8/2024 3:37:00 AM
How is this Possible?
Date Posted: 8/1/2024 2:16:00 AM
Where Poetry Goes, I Follow
Date Posted: 5/16/2020 10:01:00 AM
Happy Birthday, Richard
Date Posted: 9/8/2019 2:23:00 AM
Greetings and Apologies and Explanations
Date Posted: 10/11/2018 12:09:00 AM
Happy Birthday Paul Callus, My Collaborator
Date Posted: 2/16/2018 3:51:00 AM
A Request
Date Posted: 11/28/2017 3:16:00 PM
Happy Birthday, Richard Lamoureux
Date Posted: 9/8/2017 2:47:00 AM
Voices for Change
Date Posted: 8/23/2017 9:44:00 AM
POTD and Thanks
Date Posted: 8/9/2017 4:24:00 AM
Just a Note
Date Posted: 8/7/2017 9:08:00 AM
Prayers for Broken Wings
Date Posted: 6/7/2017 5:08:00 PM
A Message From Flo
Date Posted: 5/18/2017 12:54:00 AM
Charming Charmaine
Date Posted: 5/1/2017 8:44:00 AM
In The Midst of Life, We are in Death
Date Posted: 4/27/2017 5:00:00 AM
Words set to Music
Date Posted: 3/7/2017 2:14:00 AM
Happy Birthday, Mr Seal
Date Posted: 3/1/2017 1:54:00 PM
POTD, PATIENCE and PRAISE
Date Posted: 1/26/2017 1:54:00 PM
The Love of a Friend
Date Posted: 1/13/2017 3:25:00 PM
On Brazil...Tattoos...Hacksaw Ridge and Weight Loss!
Date Posted: 11/17/2016 7:44:00 PM
Happy Birthday, Richard...
Date Posted: 9/8/2016 6:55:00 AM
Happy Birthday, Demetrios Trifiatis
Date Posted: 8/15/2016 1:45:00 AM
Double Whammy! (The Power of Words & I'm a Youtuber now!)
Date Posted: 5/20/2016 6:33:00 PM

My Photos


photo

Book: Reflection on the Important Things