NATALIE REBECCA LOVEJOY
"Don't Talk, Evelyn" (Evelyn Nesbit's Song)
I'M SITTING FOR THIS ARTIST.
HE WANTS THE SAME OLD POSE.
I SAY, “WHAT IF WE TRY THIS WAY?
I'VE SEEN THIS MAGAZINE – “ BUT HE GOES:
“DON'T TALK, EVELYN.”
“DON'T TALK, EVELYN.”
JUST LIKE WHEN FATHER DIED
AND MEN CAME BY TO TAKE MY BOOKS.
I SCREAMED, “HOW CAN THEY TAKE WHAT'S MINE?
JUST 'TELL THEM NO,' OR BETTER, WRITE A – “
“DON'T TALK, EVELYN.”
BUT I'VE SO VERY MUCH TO SAY.
IT TAKES A LOT TO KEEP IT IN.
I'M DOING HANDSTANDS IN MY BRAIN,
BUT ALL IT'S EVER BEEN
IS “DON'T TALK, EVELYN.”
I FINALLY GOT ON BROADWAY,
EXCEPT I ONLY GOT A SHOT
'CAUSE MAMA TOLD THEM
THAT I'M EIGHTEEN WHEN I'M NOT...
Instruments: “Don’t Talk, Evelyn. Don’t Talk, Evelyn.”
I'M ASKED ON LOTS OF DATES NOW;
I'M MOSTLY NOT IMPRESSED.
OF ALL THE THINGS TO TALK ABOUT
THEY SEEM TO LIKE THEMSELVES THE BEST.
“Don’t Talk, Evelyn.”
THINK ALL YOU WANT TO, JUST DON'T TELL.
WORDS HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO CAST A SPELL.
HELEN OF TROY SPOKE TO THE WRONG BOY,
AND, LIKE, A WHOLE EMPIRE FELL.
BUT KEEPING QUIET'S WORKING WELL.
DOORS ARE OPENING LEFT AND RIGHT:
BETTER ROLES AND MORE PUBLICITY
IN EVERY PAPER IN THE CITY,
AND IT'S MOSTLY THANKS TO MISTER STANFORD WHITE.
IMAGINE BEING PICKED BY NEW YORK'S KING,
AND YOU NEVER HAD TO SAY A THING?
IN MY DREAMS, I'M A QUEEN RENOWNED
FOR HER PROFOUND EXPOUNDING.
CROWDS COME 'ROUND THE WORLD TO DEVOUR
MY THOUGHTS ON TRUTH AND TRUST AND POWER.
“TELL US, EVELYN!” I HEAR THEM CRY.
“SAY MORE, EVELYN!” SO I COMPLY,
AND SPEAK TIL I'M SPENT,
AND THEY'RE SENT ON THEIR WAY.
IT COULD HAPPEN, MAYBE,
ONE DAY...
NOW I'M AT STANNY'S PARTY
EXPECTING HALF THE TOWN,
BUT WHEN I GET THERE HE'S ALONE,
SAYS ALL THE OTHERS TURNED HIM DOWN.
“Don’t Talk, Evelyn. Don’t Talk, Evelyn.”
MY MOTHER SAID TO MIND HIM,
AND LOOK HOW MUCH HE'S SPENT
ON FOOD AND GAMES AND NOT TO MENTION
ALL MY CLOTHES AND ALL OUR RENT...
“Don’t Talk, Evelyn.”
I MEAN, HE’S BASICALLY MY DAD.
HE TALKS – THIS TIME I DON'T COMPLAIN.
BESIDES, MY MOUTH IS FULL OF TREATS.
HE BOUGHT MY FAVORITE SWEETS –
HE EVEN LETS ME HAVE CHAMPAGNE.
AND THEN HE LETS ME HAVE ANOTHER DRINK.
BUT I DON'T LIKE THIS ONE SO MUCH, I THINK.
HE SAYS I'M TO DRINK IT ALL.
SO I DO, AND MY HEAD BEGINS TO POUND
AND ALL THE WALLS SPIN 'ROUND.
I'M DOWN AND UP AND DOWN.
TIL I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE.
ALL MY PARTS ARE OUT OF WHACK.
I'M ALMOST TO THE DOOR,
WHEN EVERYTHING GOES BLACK.
AND THEN I WAKE UP,
AND MY CLOTHES ARE ON THE FLOOR,
AND IT'S ALL COMING BACK...
IF MA FINDS OUT, SHE'LL BE SO MAD
THAT WAS THE ONLY CURRENCY WE HAD.
AND NOW HE'S SITTING ON THE BED.
HIS WORDS WON'T STOP RINGING IN MY HEAD:
“MY DEAR, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.
MOST GIRLS JUST DON'T REACT THIS WAY.
YOU MUSN'T FIXATE ON THE PAST;
AND NOW ACCEPT THE TRUTH AT LAST:
WE ALL ARE EVIL, THROUGH AND THROUGH.
OH, YES, MY DEAR, INCLUDING YOU.”
I FEEL HIS HAND UPON MY SKIN.
HE'LL STOP BY LATER TO CHECK IN.
HE GOES TO LEAVE, I SEE HIM GRIN,
“WE UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER THEN?”
AND THEN I HEAR IT ONCE AGAIN:
“DON'T TALK, EVELYN.”
