COMPLAINT TO EUROPE

Armenian Freedomfighters

MY hands, my feet, the chain of slavery ties,
Yet Europe says, “ Why do you not arise ?
Justice nor freedom shall your portion be ;
Bear to the end the doom of slavery! ”

Six centuries, drop by drop, the tyrant drains
The last remaining life-blood from our veins ;
Yet Europe says, “ No strength, no power have they,”
And turns from us her scornful face away.

A needle is not left to us to-day,
And yet, “ You ought to draw the sword!” they say.
To powder and to shot could we give heed,
While we sought bread our starving ones to feed ?

Have you forgotten, Europe, how the dart
Of the fierce Persian pointed at your heart,
Until, on that dread field of Avarair,
Armenian blood quenched his fanatic fire ?*

Have you forgot the fell and crushing blow
Prepared for you by Islam long ago ?
We would not see your desolation then,
Burning of cities, massacre of men.

Two hundred years Armenia, bathed in blood,
Withstood that great invasion’s mighty flood.
Europe was safe, our living wall behind,
Until the enemy’s huge strength declined.

Have you forgotten, Europe, how of yore
Your heroes in the desert hungered sore ?
What then could strength or force of arms avail,
Had we not fed your hosts, with famine pale ?**

Ungrateful Europe, heed our woes, we pray ;
Remember poor Armenia to-day!
_________________________
* Geographically, Armenia is the bridge between Europe and Asia.
In the early centuries the Armenians acted the part of Horatius
and “ kept the bridge,” defending the gate of Europe against the
uncivilized hordes of Asia, — first against the Persian
fire-worshippers, whose advance toward Europe the Armenians checked
at the battle of Avarair in A. D. 451, and later against successive
invasions of the Mohammedans.

** The Armenians acted as guides to the Crusaders in Asia; and when
they were about to raise the siege of Antioch for want of food, the
Armenians of Cilicia supplied them with provisions and enabled them
to take the city.

RAPHAEL PATKANIAN
(1830-1892)