Huntsman, That on the Hills Above

HUNTSMAN, THAT ON THE HILLS ABOVE

BY AVETIS ISAHAKIAN

"HUNTSMAN, that on the hills above
To hunt the deer hast been,
Tell me, I pray thee, if my love--
My wild deer thou hast seen?

"He sought the hills his grief to quell--
My darling love, my sun.
He wandered out upon the fell,
My flower, my only one."

"Maiden, I saw your lover true,
All girt with red and green.
Upon his breast a rose tree grew
Where once your kiss had been."

"Huntsman, I pray, who is the bride
Of my beloved, my sun?
Who tends him, watching by his side,
My flower, my only one?"

"Maiden, I saw him with his head
Upon a stone at rest.
And for his love, a bullet red
Into his heart was pressed.

"The mountain breeze caressingly
Played with his jet-black hair,
And blossoms wept unceasingly
Your flower, your lover there."