The Armenian Poet's Prayer

THE ARMENIAN POET'S PRAYER

BY ALEXANDER DZADOURIAN

(Born 1870)

O GOD, ’tis not for laurel wreaths I pray,
For pompous funeral or jubilee;
Nor yet for fame beyond my life's decay--
All these my country will accord to me.

One favour, Lord of Heaven, I implore--
One that my land to me will never give:
Grant me a crust of bread, or else such store
Of grace that I on air may learn to live!