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Diana Der-Hovanessian NO ONE TATTOOED MY SKIN or pulled off my face. No one ripped my belly. I was not taken to Istanbul for either harem or experimental hospital. No one nailed me on a cross saying, `Now let your Jesus save you.' No one made me servant or slave. No one had me crawl like a dog or grovel for a piece of bread. My soul did not wither or fold its wings choosing to drown in the Euphrates rather than bear another day. But, oh, my sisters, now that ninety years have passed and no one has spoken for you I spit out words you swallowed unsaid. -- Diana Der-Hovanessian, New England born poet, was Fulbright professor of American poetry in 1995, and 1999 at Yerevan State University. She was visiting poet in the Mass. schools for 18 years and has led poetry and translating seminars at universities world wide. Author of 22 books of poetry and translations, her work has appeared in literary periodicals including Poetry, American Scholar, Nation, Partisan, New York Times, Harpers, etc. Reprinted with permission from Selected Poems, Diana Der-Hovanessian Sheep Meadow Press, Riverdale-on-Hudson, N.Y.