I Long Thought About Whether to Publish or Not: Nikol Pashinyan Makes a Post

“Today I went to the Armavir region to the ‘Baghramyan’ military training ground. The visit was related to the activities of the Armed Forces; there is an official statement.

On the road, I saw people greeting me from the car—some were doing so in the garden or the orchard, taking a break from work.

I had little time and managed to stop in just two places to talk to people. I then started to feel upset that I couldn’t communicate with the many people who greeted me from afar,” wrote Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his Facebook page.

The post is presented below:

“Throughout the journey, I thought about the people who greeted me and took a break from their work. By the time I reached Yerevan, this poem was born:

I long thought about whether to publish it or not. Then I decided to remain faithful to the old principle: if there is something to say, it must be said.

I kiss your hands,
that greeted me from afar,
And I want to be sure
that you feel the warmth of my lips.

I kiss your eyes,
that look at me with love,
And I want you to be sure—
even if your love fades,
even if that love turns into hatred—
the love in my eyes will never dim.

I kiss the path
that you have opened now.
And I want you to be sure—
the path opened by the calluses of your feet
will become a main road.

I kiss your hands,
that are covered in cracks.
And I want to be sure
that you feel the warmth
of my lips.”