Melemed

by Peniamin Noorigian (village of Hussenig, Kharpert)

from the volume Aykegoutk (New Jersey, 1937)

translated by Harry Kezelian, 2021

Melemed: Kharpert dialect for the eve of Dyarnuntarach (Presentation of the Lord to the Temple, Feb 14), when according to ancient tradition the customs described are practiced.

        It is winter, but there is a light breath of spring in the air. It is the moment of the evening when the sun once again circles behind the faraway mountains, on the shoulders of which the clouds - that a minute ago were ablaze - now blacken and take on monstrous forms, while the shadows dissolve into the twilight that descends from the heavens. The eye can barely see.

        On the flat-top roofs, all around, dark human figures swarm with impatient movements.

        One dosen't know who gives the signal - and suddenly, the bonfires crackle and alight one after the other. Among the rooftops huge tongues of flame shoot up; clouds of smoke rise up and up, rolling, and are lost in the darkness. 

        Above the village a wondrous half-light hangs for a moment, where merry faces are outlined and then disappear. Human figures jump over the bonfires and shout joyously - "Melemed! Melemed!"

        Newlywed brides and newlywed grooms grandly dance in a circle around the flames. And the spirits of past ages, awakened for a moment from their profound slumber, spread an ancient blessing over the village. The flames die down slowly, gently and go out. The darkness takes the village in its arms like a mother and rocks it, and puts it to sleep.

        Tell the truth, O village  - isn't it true that your slumber on Meled night has the pagan repose and dream of lost ages?