Lola Koundakjian: Awakening

Click on the link to hear the audio recording of Awakening, read by the author,

There is a moment before you realize you are awake,
a split second, before the gentle whisper from the heater,
before the need for a glass of water,
or the removal of the sweater the cold night made you wear.


A moment, when your mind is occupied by a picture,
before grey cells remember tomorrow's agenda, or
realize that morning is quite far off
and the coffee is not already made.


A pause before the regurgitation of last night's program,
the excellent book turned into a bad film,
the zests of the salad at dinner time,
the fruity flavors of that red zinfandel.


Before the body overrules the mind to get up, or
turn in bed and return to oblivion,
end the interregnum, ignore it completely,
or take pen to paper and record it gently.




This poem has appeared in the Fall 2013/Spring 2014 issue of Big City Lit

Reading at the Zohrab Information Center, NYC

An Evening of Poetry 

Nancy Agabian, Alan Semerdjian, Lola Koundakjian

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014 at 7:00PM

Donation $5. Free for students with ID

Diocese of the Armenian Church

630 Second Avenue

New York, NY 10016

A reception will follow the program

For further information go to

www.zohrabcenter.org

"Viennoiseries et poésies" at Suite Soixante, Trois-Rivières, Quebec

Photo by Doris Paris

Festival International de la poésie à Trois-Rivières: programme du dimanche 12 octobre 2014

12 h : Dîner-poésie. Restaurant Le Manoir, 1147, rue Hart, 819 373-0204. Poètes : Brian Johnstone (Écosse), Lola Koundakjian (Arménie/USA), Jean Portante (Luxembourg), Claudio Pozzani (Italie).

17 h : Apéro-poésie. Café Bar Zénob, 171, rue Bonaventure, 819 378-9925. Poètes: Rafaël Courtoisie (Uruguay), Lola Koundakjian (Arménie/USA), Gérard Cartier, Gérard Noiret (France).    

Festival International de la poésie à Trois-Rivières: programme du samedi 11 octobre 2014

10 h : Viennoiseries et poésie. Suite Soixante, 60, rue des Forges, 819 841-0090. Poètes : Sergio Badilla (Chili), Lola Koundakjian (Arménie/USA), Herménégilde Chiasson, Prix du Gouverneur général-1999 (Nouveau-Brunswick).

20 h : Grande Soirée Québecor de la Poésie : dédiée, aux poètes décédés au cours de l’année et spécialement à : Ahmed Fouad Negm (Égypte), Vasco Graça Moura (Portugal), Ronald Léger (Acadie/Québec), Micheline Lafrance (Québec). Maison de la culture, 1425, place de l’Hôtel-de-Ville. Entrée gratuite pour fêter les 30 ans du FIP. Laissez-passer obligatoire disponible entre 11 h et 18 h : 819 380-9797 ou billetterie@v3r.net ou 1 866 416-9797 (sans frais). Poètes : Rafaël Courtoisie (Uruguay), Jacques Rancourt (Québec/France), Raymond Bozier, Gérard Cartier, Gérard Noiret (France), Sergio Badilla (Chili), Sara Cohen (Argentine), Fredrik Ekelund (Suède), Achour Fenni (Algérie), Luisa Futoransky (Argentine/France), Brian Johnstone (Écosse), Lola Koundakjian (Arménie/USA), Herménégilde Chiasson, Prix du Gouverneur général-1999, (Nouveau-Brunswick), Julie Bruck, Prix du Gouverneur général-poésie-2012 (Québec/USA), Anthony Phelps, Prix Jaime-Sabines/Gatien-Lapointe-2014 (Haïti/Québec), Louise Desjardins, Pierre Nepveu, Prix du Gouverneur général-poésie-1997 et 2003, Michel Pleau, Prix du Gouverneur général-poésie-2008, André Roy, Prix du Gouverneur général-poésie-1985, Catherine Poulin, Prix Piché de poésie de l’UQTR-2014, Michaël Trahan, Prix Émile-Nelligan-2013, Roger Des Roches, Prix Athanase-David-2013, Mathieu Croisetière, Prix de littérature Gérald-Godin-2014, Prix de poésie Radio-Canada-2014, Denise Desautels, Grand Prix Québecor du FIP-2014 et Prix du Gouverneur général-poésie-1993 (Québec).

Meeting students at CGEP Shawanigan

Shawinigan, le jeudi 9 octobre 2014 – La poésie était à l’honneur au Carrefour de l’information le mercredi 8 octobre. Trois poètes étaient sur place pour livrer leur poésie et échanger avec les étudiants du Collège Shawinigan.
Sous le signe de la diversité culturelle, les trois poètes ont livré leur création dans leur langue d’origine. Cette année, le Collège Shawinigan avait l’honneur d’accueillir les poètes Silvia Castillero du Mexique, Luisa Futoransky de l’Argentine et Lola Koundakjian de l’Arménie.

Festival International de la poésie à Trois-Rivières: programme du vendredi 10 octobre 2014

12 h : Dîner-poésie. Restaurant Le Lupin, 376, rue Saint-Georges, 819 370-4740. Poètes : Jacques Rancourt (Québec/France), Brian Johnstone (Écosse), Lola Koundakjian (Arménie/USA), Denise Desautels, Grand Prix Québecor du FIP-2014 et Prix du Gouverneur général-poésie-1993 (Québec). N.B. Apportez votre vin.

15 h 30 – 16 h 30 : Poèmes en langue anglaise. Galerie d'art Le Réfectoire, Musée des Ursulines, 734, rue des Ursulines, 819 375-7922. Poètes: Jacques Rancourt (Québec/France), Brian Johnstone (Écosse), Lola Koundakjian (Arménie/USA), Julie Bruck, Prix du Gouverneur général-poésie-2012, David Groulx, Beatriz Hausner (Ontario).

18 h : Souper-poésie. Restaurant Il Circo Pâtes et Passion, 1140, rue Saint-Prosper, 819 374-0008. Poètes : Sergio Badilla (Chili), Lola Koundakjian (Arménie/USA), Pierre Nepveu, Prix du Gouverneur général-poésie-1997 et 2003 (Québec), Flavia Rocha Loures (Brésil). N.B. Apportez votre vin.

Festival International de la poésie à Trois-Rivières: programme du jeudi 9 octobre 2014

12 h : Dîner-poésie. La p’tite Brûlerie, 363, rue Laviolette, 819 375-6890. Poètes : Sergio Badilla (Chili), Achour Fenni (Algérie), Lola Koundakjian (Arménie/USA).

13 h 30 - 15 h : Atelier d’écriture : Je crée avec les poètes ! Artiste : Pascal Lareau, Silex. Galerie d’art Le Réfectoire, Musée des Ursulines, 734, rue des Ursulines, 819 375-7922. Poèmes : Rose Eliceiry. Poètes : Lola Koundakjian (Arménie/USA), Brane Mozetic (Slovénie), Gérard Noiret (France), Éric Charlebois (Ontario), Nora Atalla (Égypte/Québec), Pierre Nepveu, Prix du Gouverneur général-poésie-1997 et 2003 (Québec).

18 h : Tapas et poésie. Restaurant Le Sacristain, 300, rue Bonaventure, 819 694-1344. Poètes : Brian Johnstone (Écosse), Lola Koundakjian (Arménie/USA), Éric Charlebois, David Groulx (Ontario).

Festival International de la poésie à Trois-Rivières: programme du Mercredi 8 octobre 2014

13 h 30 – 15 h : Rencontre de poètes. Carrefour de l’information du Collège de Shawinigan, 2263, avenue du Collège, Shawinigan. Poètes : Silvia Castillero (Mexique), Luisa Futoransky (Argentine/France), Lola Koundakjian (Arménie/USA). Réservé aux étudiant(e)s.   

17 h - 18 h 30 : Apéro-poésie. Café Bar Zénob, 171, rue Bonaventure, 819 378-9925. Poètes : Sara Cohen (Argentine), Fredrik Ekelund (Suède), Lola Koundakjian (Arménie/USA), Lisa Carducci (Québec/Chine), Stefan Psenak (Ontario), Louis-Philippe Hébert (Québec).

18 h 30 : Souper-poésie. Restaurant Le Castel des Prés, 5800, Gene-H.-Kruger, 819 375-4921. Poètes : Fredrik Ekelund (Suède), Lola Koundakjian (Arménie/USA), Herménégilde Chiasson, Prix du Gouverneur général-1999, (Nouveau-Brunswick), Jean-Paul Daoust, Prix du Gouverneur général-poésie-1990 (Québec).

http://www.fiptr.com

Rendez-vous à Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada

Festival international de la poésie, 3-12 octobre, 2014

Lola Koundakjian, poète et traductrice, est l'auteur d'une collection de poèmes en arménien intitulé L'observateur accidentel. Née au Liban, elle habite New York depuis 1979. Publié sur quatre continents, Lola lit sur scène régulièrement dans la région new yorkaise en compagnie d’autres auteurs et de musiciens. Elle a participé aux festivals internationaux de Medellín (Colombie), Lima (Pérou) et Ramallah (Palestine). Son deuxième manuscrit a été choisi comme finaliste du prix Orange en Arménie; elle a récemment gagné un prix littéraire au Liban. Lola a traduit en anglais l’œuvre de poètes arméniens modernes d’Istanbul, dont Irma Adjemian et Zahrad. Son œuvre a été traduite en français, en espagnol et en ukrainien. Elle organise depuis 25 ans des soirées dédiées aux poètes arméniens et dirige le Projet de Poésie Arménienne en ligne depuis 2006.

Reading in Stamford, CT

Curley’s Poets / 2014

Lola Koundakjian

Curley’s Diner in Stamford

62 West Park Place, Stamford, CT, (203) 348 2020

July 29, 2014, 7:30 p.m.

Lola Koundakjian is the author The Accidental Observer and editor of the Armenian Poetry Project. She has read at international poetry festivals in Colombia, Peru, and Palestine. Next October she will be at the Trois-Rivières poetry festival in Canada.

Her work has been translated into French, Spanish and Ukrainian.

She has won two grants from the Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance and most recently the Naji Naaman literary prize in Lebanon, her birth country.

For more on Ms. Koundakjian, please visit www.lolakoundakjian.com

All are welcome.

Naji Naaman's Literary Prizes 2014

Lola Koundakjian is amongst 67 new literary prize winners in the Naji Naaman's Literary Prizes 2014. Chosen amongst 1681 participants in competition representing 58 countries, Ms. Koundakjian won in the category of Creative Prizes for her poems A trip to Egypt and Sunday Morning.

Since 2002, Naji Naaman's Literary Prizes are awarded to "authors of the most emancipated literary works in content and style, aiming to revive and develop human values."

FACE OUT: NoMAA Literary Grantees

FACE OUT: NoMAA Literary Grantees

Thursday, June 12, 2014 

7–9pm

In celebration of the Uptown Arts Stroll, tonight's reading features literary grantees from throughout all the years since the founding of Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance. Readers include Dina Di Donato, Ellen Hagan, Lola Koundakjian, Veronica Liu, Sheila Maldonado, Paquita Suárez Coalla, Arlaina Tibensky, and more.

Introduced by NoMAA executive director Sandra García Betancourt.

Word Up
2113 Amsterdam Avenue
New York NY 10032
(347) 688-4456

A Reading of Queer, Crossed and Hidden Histories from Multiple Diasporas

Gartal presents

The Part of You That is Me:

A Reading of Queer, Crossed and Hidden Histories from Multiple Diasporas

Sunday, May 11, 2014

6 – 7:30 pm

Bowery Arts + Science

308 Bowery

New York, NY 10012

Subways: F to 2^nd Ave; B,D,F,M to Broadway-Lafayette; 6 to Bleecker Street; N, R to Prince St.

http://www.boweryartsandscience.org/

$10 admission

Featuring:

Danielle Abrams

Ahimsa Timoteo Bodhrán

Lola Koundakjian

Alan Semerdjian

Hosted by Nancy Agabian

https://www.facebook.com/events/262316063935285/

Sponsored by the Armenian Gay and Lesbian Association of New York

http://aglany.org/2014/04/30/gartal-the-part-of-you-that-is-me/

Inspired by the recent stories from Turkey of hidden Armenians in family trees, the readers for Gartal: The Part of You That Is Me will be sharing stories, poems and nonfiction on hidden and shared histories – from various cultures and identities, queer and otherwise.

Artists' Bios:

Danielle Abrams is a an artist and writer who has performed at art museums and performance spaces including the Detroit Institute of Arts, The Jewish Museum, Bronx Museum of Art, Queens Museum of Art, The Kitchen, WOW Performance Cafe, Dixon Place, and the Roger Smith Hotel. She has also lectured at conferences including Open Engagement (Portland, OR), Intervene! Interrupt! (UC Santa Cruz), and the Creative Time Summit (NYC). Abrams has been awarded grants and fellowships from the Franklin Furnace Fund for Performance Art, New York Foundation for the Arts, and the Urban Artist Initiative.  She teaches writing and art at York College and College of Staten Island (CUNY) and at in the MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts Program at Goddard College.

Ahimsa Timoteo Bodhrán is the author of Antes y después del Bronx: Lenapehoking and South Bronx Breathing Lessons, and editor of an international queer Indigenous issue of Yellow Medicine Review: A Journal of Indigenous Literature, Art, and Thought. His work appears in 180 publications in 20 nations in the Américas, Africa, the Arab world, Asia, Europe, Australia, and the Pacific. Bamboo Ridge Editors’ Choice Award Winner, he has been awarded 12 artist residencies, including Yaddo, Vermont Studio Center, and James Merrill House; and Fine Arts Work Center, Lambda Literary Foundation, and Macondo Foundation scholarships. He is completing Yerbabuena/Mala yerba.

Lola Koundakjian is the author of the Armenian/English poetry collection The Accidental Observer, which includes translations in Spanish. She was an invited poet at the 20th Festival Internacional de Poesía, Medellín, Colombia in July 2010. In 2013, she was invited to the Second Festival Internacional de Poesía, in Lima, Peru, and the first Mamilla International Poetry Festival in Ramallah, West Bank. Next October she will be reading her work at the 30^th international poetry festival at Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada. Lola has organized evenings dedicated to the Dead Armenian Poets’ Society since her university days, and has curated the online Armenian Poetry Project since 2006. www.lolakoundakjian.com

Writer, musician, and award-winning educator Alan Semerdjian’s poems and essays have appeared in several print and online publications and anthologies including Adbusters, Diagram, and Ararat. He released a chapbook of poems called An Improvised Device (Lock n Load Press) in 2005 and his first full-length book In the Architecture of Bone (GenPop Books) in 2009. His songs have appeared in television and film and charted on CMJ. Alan has performed and read all over North America. He currently teaches English at Herricks High School in New Hyde Park, NY, writes a monthly column, music reviews, and other kinds of prose for LI Pulse, and resides in New York City’s East Village.

Since 2002, Gartal ("to read" in Western Armenian) has been an independent forum for both established and emerging writers of Armenian descent and/or multicultural writers dealing with related themes to read their poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction and dramatic texts to the public. Coordinated by writer Nancy Agabian, Gartal brings together, via the dual acts of reading and listening, diverse Armenian constituencies, from the progressive to the traditional. A particular effort is made to give voice to stories that haven't been widely heard, including those of mixed race, various religions, different economic backgrounds, and queer Armenians. For more information, email nancyagabian@gmail.com.

Since 1998, the purpose of AGLA NY has been to provide space for lesbian, gay, bi, and transgender Armenian-Americans, their partners, and their allies to come together as a community. The forum to network fosters our visibility and strengthens our cultural and ethnic ties to the queer communities and Armenian communities to which we each belong.