Sagiian, Amo

(pen name of Amaiak Saakovich Grigorian). Born Apr. 1 (14), 1915, in the village of Lor, in what is now Si-sian Raion, Armenian SSR. Soviet Armenian poet. Member of the CPSU since 1946.

Sagiian graduated from the Baku Pedagogical Institute in 1940. He fought in the Great Patriotic War (1941–5). His works were first published in the early 1930’s. His poetry collections include On the Shores of the Vorotan (1946), On the Heights (1955; Russian translation, 1956), Armenia in Songs (1962), Before Sunset (1963), Song of the Rocks (1968), My Years (1970; Russian translation, 1971), and Call, Crane! (1973). Sagiian’s lyric poetry, which constantly stresses the theme of man’s link to his native earth, mainly deals with contemporary life. The world of nature in his verses is changing, varied, and sometimes full of drama. Sagiian’s imagery is linked to classical and oral poetic traditions. Sagiian has also translated verse by S. A. Ese-nin, F. Garcia Lorca, and other poets. He has been awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor.