THE NEWS IN ISTAMBUL

	by Michael E. Stone

	Watching the news in Istanbul
	I understand nothing;
	But the weather forecast
	is easier.

	Temperatures and winds in different towns,
	Names from all the centuries,
	From all the human layers,
	Of which the Turks are top.

	Mostly, if I know them,
	It is in their old forms:
	Sinope and Trebizond and Ephesus,
	Kars and Van and Erzerum.
	Greece on the west,
	Armenia on the east.

	And Constantimople straddling
	the two continents.

	But it is Istanbul now.
 

--
Michael Stone is Professor of Armenian Studies at the Hebrew
University of Jerusalem. He has published poetry in Ararat, Avocet,
Byline Magazine, Hazmat Review, King Log, Mandrake Poetry Review,
Ruah, White Heron, ARC, and Voices Anthology. He also translates
medieval Armenian poetry into English and has published translations
in Ararat, Sion and St. Nersess Theological Review. He is at present
finalizing an English translation of the medieval biblical epic
Adamgirk' by Arak'el of Siwnik'. In addition to poetry he has
published numerous scholarly books and articles on Armenian studies.