Harry Terhanian.com

eench dahss hohkout, ehn gehrtah ahrehvout

Literally this proverb says, “What you give to your soul, goes to your sun.” Goes to your “sun” in Armenian implies “makes your life and destiny better.” The sun is the source of light. Knowledge comes from the light of God’s words. There is a play of words in English and Armenian when one refers to the sun. One can say in English that the similarity in the pronunciation of sun and son implies that the sun is a metaphor for Jesus Christ, the son of God. And in Armenian, the implication is that light emanates from the sun as Jesus came from God as His son to enlighten the world. Therefore, we can say that man’s destiny and eternal life is related to the sun (ahrehv in Armenian) which symbolically points to Christ the source of light for mankind. This is demonstrated by the Armenian sharaghan or holy chant that says ahrekaguhn ahrtahr ahrehv louiyss dzakyia/ pughouhm ee hohreh/ pughyia ee hohkoiyss/ pahn kehzz ee hahjouyss which means The sun has risen and lighted the firmament (implies Jesus has arisen from the dead to spread light) and we (as souls) have all come from God to serve and please Him (following Jesus).

The turtle and the ducks

There was a turtle of little wit
bored of her pond, desired to quit
See the wide world, mounts, rivers and vales
Marvel splendors amidst nature’s trails

She shared her desire with two ducks flying high
Who agreed to carry her to Paris through the sky
They said: “We’ll fly you to the banks of river Seine
Where Eiffel Tower touches heaven, was built by men

You’ll gaze on different races whose customs vary
Who eat fine foods, colorfully dress and make merry
The turtle agreed to transit to exotic, far lands
While the ducks searched around for a strong branch

Fortune shined for they found a sturdy rod for transport
Cautioned the turtle to bite hard on it for support
“Oh thick shell with four fins and blessed with a mighty mouth
Don’t let go or you’ll hit the ground with a deadly clout.”

The ducks each grabbed an end of the rod
The turtle stared up and prayed to god
Upward and onward the ducks flapped high
Crossed seas and forests, they plied the sky

Wherever they flew all stared amazed
Raised their voices, cried aloud and dazed
“The queen turtle has risen the sky.”
Proud and impatient to make reply,

She said, “Yes, I’m the queen, what’s it to you!”

Better for her to journey quiet, closed lipped
Enjoy her trip without losing her grip
Wise to remain humble, not make facade
Than let go one’s hold and slip from the rod.

Down she fell forced by her weight and gravity
bouncing from one hard rock to another heavily
Broken and maimed she met death at the end game
Sad is the plight who falls from such height, poor dame

It is said, “Sweet speech is silver esteemed in days of old,
But knowing the art of staying silent is better than gold.”
One who is rash and cannot forbear
Whose tongue unleashed lives without care
Has certainly a dark destiny to suffer and bear
I declare I understand this truth, I’ll forever beware