Evangeline Dardouni: Free Verse

November 2003

I am sad today
and I didn’t cry last night
because my heart isn’t broken and I just love my job-
“would you like to open a Jcrew charge and save 10% on your purchase-“
I’m hungry lunch is in my bag that I carried on my walk from Wickenden St.
I don’t miss NY and my home life in Providence is perfect
and I’m not responsible for my feelings
Mookie is absolutely not the cutest dog I have seen
Blank Blank Blank-
I don’t know what to write
sigh sigh
I cant believe she did that- GET OVER IT- who cares-free Write-Write-Write
Daddy-
wonder how he is-he calls that much
like I love to talk to my mother I didn’t just scratch my-
that word out wow Sandra just turned the page
she hasn’t written more than me
don’t forget to lie you honest fool
maybe this will do you some good since you’re so honest
Blank-Blank-Blank
this is typical weather for November
My Birthday is not in a month and I am not getting older and no it doesn’t suck
and neither do I –she didn’t laugh and I know why
door creeks itch on my cheek
no more lies, lies, lies
blah blah blah don’t know what to write but
I have it all figured out
period. comma, coffee-
I am not addicted to coffee
Blank-
alarm on wicker table
he called last night late and we met for drinks down the street and we had the best time
and he is attractive blank Joe, Joe, blank Joe,
I went to sleep happy and
I did not punch my pillow or scream out love
because he called and I had someone else to think about
my friends are not worried about me
Blank
When the hell is that damn timer gonna go
I hope he doesn’t call tonight or
later because then I will have to get to know
someone knew and its all too scary right
now I cant lie for shit
this was easy
flip the page good lies good lies white
elastic on my wrist my hair is clean
I am fulfilled
I am not loved
I am fearless
I am not angry
At the world
I am not talented
And have not known love
I am compassionate

I do not think I am foolish
I am sick of not sick of myself
I don’t need yoga
And I don’t need to write
Lies lies lies
Teach me what is real
or nothing at all
Blank blank
I am not jealous
I am sorry I moved to Providence
15 seconds left
too many for me
let this end

Evangeline Dardouni

Evangeline Dardouni: Om

September 2001

In response to the attack on September 11, 2001

I belong to a generation
without a purpose
living in the shadow of our parents movement
desperate thirsty
willing to believe half truths
craving unity under a black moon
Shining in a scary sky of a purple haze and hydro breed
stoned by the simplicity of our arrogance
while black, white, red and blue blood
was spilled for moments of silence on hard concrete streets
that have seen drugs and murder
committed by children from broken homes-
So we chant for the sins of the stick-up-kids
Pullin’ triggers for a rush, beatin’ down doors
They crash and bust
Shots bang bodies, hit the floor
We are violent and eager, mercilessly settling a score
with guns and guts and hearts alike
while we dance around the issues
from Washington to Baghdad
because freedom bubbles a blistering sobering burn
And we cant bare to fucking look
And we cant bare to fucking try
or even begin to live without it
Without the right to speak and pray
And fuck and come
And write and live and learn and scream
And question the powers that be
And question the powers that be


Evangeline Dardouni
Previously published in “Downtown Brooklyn a Journal of Writing” Issue 13

Evangeline Dardouni: Definition of Aurora

        Summer 2005


-Love showed up    out of nowhere
committed from creation
wanted in dreams
I dreamed in winter.  Waiting,
for warm nights,
knotted legs in
love, melted.
Into skin so foreign and good,
It’s my own-

Evangeline Dardouni

Evangeline Dardouni: Confession

August 2003

It will be okay
You don’t have to suffer
forever, in the abyss seeking redemption.
Just be gentle,

Life will happen anyway,
And the warm translucent stones
of God’s tears
will shower over you.

Over the desolate country and endless land
over the certainties and contradictions of life.
And the truths of the innocent new breath
are finally coming home.

Whatever your name,
no matter how unspoken, the love you want is possible.
Singing to you like a confession,
blunt and enthused

Again and again, saving your song
in the safe place you’ve made.


Evangeline Dardouni

Introducing Evangeline Dardouni

Evangeline Dardouni graduated from LIU Brooklyn in the spring of 03 with a degree from the Speech Communications and Theater/Performance Studies department, and a minor in English. She performed in LIU’s production of The Laramie Project in 2003. She has been previously published in The Downtown Brooklyn , issues 11, 12, and 13. In 2005 her work appeared at “Unpublished Underground”, a writing gallery in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. She lives and writes uptown, in Washington Heights.