The Sunday Poet: Krikor Der Hohannesian

Krikor Der Hohannesian  photo by Zvi Sesling

Krikor Der Hohannesian lives in Medford, MA. His poems have appeared in over 150 literary journals including The Evansville Review, The South Carolina Review, Atlanta Review, Louisiana Literature, Connecticut Review and Natural Bridge. He is a three-time Pushcart Prize nominee and the author of two chapbooks,“Ghosts and Whispers” (Finishing Line Press, 2010) and “Refuge in the Shadows” (Cervena Barva Press, 2013). “Ghosts and Whispers” was a finalist for the Mass Book awards poetry category in 2011.

...The following poem is on the death of Diana Der-Hovanessian--former President of the New England Poetry Club. 

PREMONITION

Instinct does not lie,

I should have listened.

We hadn’t spoken for a while

and, just days before, I thought

I must call. Instead, it was I

Who was called

There would be no more

long conversations

about family, poetry, the club

and all those crazy Armenians.

Now only memories

as delicious as our mother’s

home cooking

I should have been there

to hold your hand

one last time, to lend comfort

as we would all wish to be comforted.

Alas, intent – such an empty vessel

Rest easy, dear lady

--  Krikor Der Hohannesian