Happiness

Michael Berman, UK

Michael Berman’s published work includes The Power of Metaphor for Crown House, The Nature of Shamanism and the Shamanic Story for Cambridge Scholars Publishing, Shamanic Journeys through the Caucasus and Shamanic Journeys, Shamanic Stories for O-Books, Journeys outside Time for Pendraig Publishing, and Tales of Power for Lear Books. A Bridge to the Other Side: Death in the Folk Tradition and Georgia through Earth, Fire, Air and Water are both due to be published by Moon Books in 2012. ELT publications include A Multiple Intelligences Road to an ELT Classroom, In a Faraway Land (a resource book for teachers on storytelling), On Business and for Pleasure (a self-study workbook), and English Language Teaching Matters, written with Mojca Belak and Wayne Rimmer. For more information please visit www.Thestoryteller.org.uk, E-mail: michaelberman@blueyonder.co.uk

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The poem
Notes for teachers

The poem

Happiness
by Arschag Tchobanian
(Born 1872)

WEARY of vainly seeking Happiness
In city alleys full of sound and strife,
I hastened from the noisy human press,--
The labyrinth of this dark, grovelling life.

I said, "The mountain knows its place of rest,"
And clambered up above the level plain;
But the bald Titan answered me distressed:--
"Dullness alone doth Time for me ordain."

I left the mountain and approached the winds--
Those infinite, proud spirits, ever free;
"We are the sighs of griefs that to your minds
Must still remain unknown," they answered me.

And then above the winds and clouds I rose,
Soared to the skies, and asked the stars of Heaven.
"We are the tears that flow from countless woes,"
The answer by those eyes of darkness given.

Above the stars, in the lone fields of space,
I saw God musing, sorrowful and mild.
"Father," I cried, "where is Joy's dwelling-place?"
He said, "I also do not know, my child."

From Armenian Legends and Poems by Zabelle C. Boyajian, published in London by J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd. in 1916, and scanned at sacred-texts.com June 2006. Proofed and Formatted by John Bruno Hare. This text is in the public domain in the United States because it was published prior to January 1st, 1923. These files may be used for any non-commercial purpose, provided this notice of attribution is left intact in all copies.

Notes for teachers

Pre-listening: The poem you’re going to read or listen to was written by an Armenian poet. What do you know about Armenia and its people and, based on this knowledge, what would you expect the poem to be about?

While-listening: While reading or listening to this poem, see if you can work out the rhyme scheme

Post-listening: Where do you think happiness is to be found in life? Tell the person sitting to your left. Some people would argue that we have no right to be happy while there is still so much poverty and suffering in the world. What do you think? Tell the person sitting to your right. The poem suggests that even God does not know where happiness is to be found. To what extent do you agree with this? Tell the person sitting in front or behind you.

Please check the Creative Methodology for the Classroom course at Pilgrims website.
Please check the Literature course at Pilgrims website.