Modern
Armenian literature had tuberculosis as one of its enemies. Several
brilliant poets became victim to this cruel illness just as they began
flourishing. Among them was Misak Medzarentz.
He
was born Misak Medzadourian on January 19, 1886, in the village of
Pingian of the district of Akn (Kharpert). The village, situated on the
left bank of the Aratzani (the western branch of the Euphrates river),
was surrounded by nature and beautiful scenery, which left a deep
impression on the future poet and would become the source for wonderful
lyrical songs.
In
1892, at the age of six, Misak started his studies at the local
Mesrobian School, but his timid character did not help him excel.
The
Medzadourians, a well-to-do family, moved to Sepastia (Sivas) in 1895,
and Medzarentz continued his studies first at the Aramian School and a
year later at the Anatolia College of Marsovan, a boarding school. He
befriended several of his classmates and participated more actively in
social life, performing in several student plays. His interest in
literature led him to wide readings in Armenian, English, and Turkish.
He took his first literary steps at this time. According to various
contemporaries, he wrote poetry on the walls of his bedroom and the
reverse of his brother’s commercial newspapers.
In
1901 there was a crucial episode in the life of Medzarentz. Some
Turkish boys took him for one of their rivals, beat and knifed him, and
this became the reason for the poet to contract tuberculosis. He was
treated during several months at the monastery of Surp Hagop. From
1901-1902, Medzarents worked at the trading house of his brother and
first cousin as a supervisor.
In
1902 he went to Istanbul, where his father had been working for several
years. He had spent his entire childhood without seeing him. He
continued studying at the famed Central College (Getronagan Varjaran),
where he studied Armenian history, Armenian and world literature, and
French and English. However, the progress of his condition forced him to
drop out in 1905.
In
1903, at the age of seventeen, Medzarentz started publishing poetry
under various pen names in the Armenian press of Constantinople. He
finally opted for the name Misak Medzarentz in 1905. He collected some
of his poems in two collections,
Rainbow
and
New Odes,
both published in 1907.
His
literary heritage consists of more than 130 lyrical poems endowed with
an exquisite sensitivity and linguistic talent, about a dozen of prose
poems and stories, and several literary essays, where he explained his
creative principles and defended himself against hostile criticism. He
also published several translations from Geoffrey Chaucer, Rudyard
Kipling, and Oscar Wilde.
Despite
the care and the efforts of his friends and family, Medzarentz passed
away, a victim of tuberculosis, on June 22, 1908. His poetic legacy,
however, left a powerful impression over generations of Armenian
writers.
