The “heavy artillery” of Armenian culture — Hovhannes Shiraz, William Saroyan, Vahagn Davtyan, and Sero Khanzadyan — at Geghard Monastery (1976).

These four great figures had gathered to discuss the fate of the Armenian people and the pain of Western Armenia. During those days, a touching and amusing story took place between Shiraz and Saroyan.

Before meeting Saroyan, Shiraz had been gifted a shiny toy pistol to take home for his son. However, during the meeting, Saroyan embraced the poet with such childlike sincerity and warmth that Shiraz’s heart melted. Deeply moved, the poet took the toy out of his pocket and gifted it to his world-famous compatriot.

But the most touching detail in the photograph is Shiraz’s hat. If you look carefully inside the hat he is holding, you will notice a small circular image. Shiraz had the habit of placing a photograph of his mother, Astghik, inside his hats. He used to say that in this way his mother was always above his head or close to his heart.