#jivjiv Language by Hrayr Varaz

#jivjiv Language is the second volume of bilingual Twitter poems written by queer Armenian poet and linguist Hrayr Varaz (IG @hrayr_huh_died), with cover and illustrations by Amy Kazandjian (IG @amykazn).

The book includes 40 pairs of poems about the joys of the Armenian language, letters, sound bites, and word bits. This volume also includes a long-form prose, and sounds (streams) of consciousness written in Armenian while gazing at Jupiter and Saturn during an early morning summer day. All poems and prose are written in both Western Armenian and English. The poems also feature their corresponding pronunciations in the other language’s alphabet. Everything is written with spelling freedoms and deviations from the Armenian dictionary appear in blue.

Hrayr Varaz Khanjian (PhD) is a queer Western Armenian-ist, Yelamu-based (S.F.) poet, translator, teacher, linguist, flower photographer, dancer, sensory intensity flow-er. He’s a white non-disabled gay cis-male who writes with spelling freedoms and welcomes odar-words (non-Armenian words) putting aside amot (shame). Hrayr’s first self-published bilingual poem pair collection #jivjiv is now in its second printing. Both #jivjiv collections are illustrated by Amy Kazandjian and printed by Abril Books. He’s also translated and collaborated on language projects with the Armenian Creatives. Hrayr reads his jivjivs frequently in SF, LA, and NY.

Purchase #jivjiv Language from Abril Books. Check out our 2024 Holiday Book Guide which includes exciting publications like Hrayr Varaz Khanjian’s and more!