The Night-Fire
No engines shrieking rescue storm the night,
And hose and hydrant cannot here avail;
The flames laugh high and fling their challenging light,
And clouds turn gray and black from silver-pale.
The fire leaps out and licks the ancient walls,
And the big building bends and twists and groans.
A bar drops from its place; a rafter falls
Burning the flowers. The wind in frenzy moans.
The watchers gaze, held wondering by the fire,
The dwellers cry their sorrow to the crowd,
The flames beyond themselves rise higher, higher,
To lose their glory in the frowning cloud,
Yielding at length the last reluctant breath.
And where life lay asleep broods darkly death.
poem by Claude McKay
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Woman with Train
She rides her bike
Along the railway
Crossing the tracks
Where the long trail ends.
Her gray hair shines:
A flying silver kite
Over clover fields of August.
And at night
When crickets sing
The praises of star light
And pale shadows bath
In the dense void of darkness
She dreams
Of pink-skinned breast-fed babies
Of white butterflies
Or red grapes and rye bread
With black olives.
And as she sleeps
Her lips puff sometimes
Like locomotive engines
Of bygone days.
poem by Paul Hartal
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Cloudy Night Sky
I sat last night on damp plowed ground.
Above the sky felt close around.
The clouds were broken by silver rays;
Each was a blue and gray curtain array.
All moved swiftly on their way.
The moon a silver sphere seemed very near,
When the clouds allowed it to appear.
The refreshing beauty of the sky was made,
In the marvelous broken patterns, hues, and shades,
of silver, blue, and gray.
A night [O noapte]
Up in the starry sky dark clouds now come in sight
And suddenly they cover the night's eternal light.
A shadow vast and eerie surrounds the earth with ease
And in the black night's silence one hears how roars the breeze.
Will I be blessed again with moonlit nights and warm?
A storm has raged outside and in my chest – a storm.
Quick lightnings tear the darkness of the majestic sky,
As late at night swift light thoughts pervade my mind and eye.
And one can hear the thunder that whimpers far away,
As in my soul is groaning eternal black dismay.
Harassed by winds, the bleak woods their sad show do perform.
A storm has raged outside and in my chest – a storm.
poem by George Topîrceanu, translated by Octavian Cocoş
Submitted by anonym
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Scarlatti
last night
locked in
the castle
of pride and
egotism
goes on two
legs
Webern
orchestrated a
sky the clouds
move to a
bass
on
an instrument not
an oboe, gray
on light-gray in
blue and green
goes by
on glass
Schoenberg
serenades with
a view through
to where
a girl
swings
her
body displaced
against the
pull of her
hands head-
high on the
ropes
night
before the night
before last
unlocked the castle
of pride and
egotism
bliss
clouds stand
and go by
poem by James Marcus Schuyler
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Safe
Wild wintry wind, storm through the night,
Dash the black clouds against the sky,
Hiss through the billows seething white,
Fling the rock-surf in spray on high.
Hurl the high seas on harbour bars,
Madden them with thy havock-shriek
Against the crimson beacon-stars --
Thy rage no more can make me weak.
The ship rides safely in the bay,
The ship that held my hope in her --
Whirl on, wild wind, in thy wild fray,
We hear our whispers through the stir.
poem by Augusta Davies Webster
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Pleasures In Giving
this morning
you take the water hose
turn on the faucet
you squeeze the hose
and water is spread on the bush
flowers are thirsty
for those nights without rain
an early morning shower from your
water hose
gives the feast on every leaf, on every branch
on every cracking soil of this earth
it is the pleasure of giving
that makes your heart dance
with the clouds.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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Hot Burning Flames
She left me almost burned out
I couldn't feel a thin'
A walkin' talkin' statue
Afraid to love again
She did everything to kill a flame
But a little spark got through
If she'd a got her way I'd be gone today
If it hadn't been for you
You turned cold gray ashes into hot burning flames
I'm alive with love because of you
When you came to light the fire you knew just what to bring
You turned cold gray ashes into hot burning flames
--- Instrumental ---
She thought she had me down and out
But at the count of nine
A livin' lovin' angel showed up just in time
She thought that I would surely die
Sometimes I wanted to
She had no doubt the fire was out
But she didn't count on you
You turned cold gray ashes into hot burning flames
I'm alive with love because of you
When you came to light the fire you knew just what to bring
You turned cold gray ashes into hot burning flames
You turned cold gray ashes into hot burning flames
I'm alive with love because of you
When you came to light the fire you knew just what to bring
You turned cold gray ashes into hot burnin' flames
You turned cold gray ashes into hot burnin' flames...
song performed by by George Strait
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Meadowlarks
In the silver light after a storm,
Under dripping boughs of bright new green,
I take the low path to hear the meadowlarks
Alone and high-hearted as if I were a queen.
What have I to fear in life or death
Who have known three things: the kiss in the night,
The white flying joy when a song is born,
And meadowlarks whistling in silver light.
poem by Sara Teasdale
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black as night, Elvyra
Watch out they'll say,
she'll come and get you,
black as night Elvyra,
will take your soul,
leaving you with nothing,
you'll never see another,
as dark and souless as her,
you wait and see,
i know what they'll say of me,
black as night Elvyra
They'll say she dances,
with the devil,
that she plays with fire,
that black as nite Elvyra,
you wait and see,
i know what they'll say of me,
Black as night Elvyra
look at her they'll say,
how dark with doom and gloom,
black as night elvyra,
look at her face,
pale as pale,
her black lips,
her black eyes too,
you wait and see,
i know what they'll say of me,
Black as night Elvyra
skinny and pale they'll say,
with raven black hair to opose,
Black as night Elvyra,
she knows your secrets,
whispers from your depths,
watch out for me,
you wait and see,
I'm Black as night Elvyra
poem by Jess Terry
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Tut-Ench-Amon (Tutankhamen)
Been and seen down flight from chicago
All aboard the African Queen
I am on a night boat down to cairo
Feeling like a tourist with a foreign man abroad
Tells it like he thinks it is, but I know he is fraud
There is a map tucked under his shoulder
and a cap perched on his head
If he looked any older, he might as well be dead
Dressed in army surplus the files around me swarm
On a mission without a purpose, I wish I'd never been born
By the light of a pale moon - Tutankhamen
Half past high noon - Tutankhamen
Put you in the picture - 1884
I'm up to date on the literature
but I have never been here before
There is a black boy on the corner trailing me behind
Stalking like a vulture money on his mind
In the shadow of the giant sphinx the archeological tale
Before the eastern sun sinks I'll be learning braille
By the light of a pale moon - Tutankhamen
Half past high noon - Tutankhamen
They are playing our tune - Tutankhamen
Half past high noon - Tutankhamen
By the light of a, light of a pale moon - Tutankhamen
Half past high noon - Tutankhamen
By the light of a pale moon - Tutankhamen
Half past high noon - Tutankhamen
song performed by by Falco
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Cool The Engines
Now I like takin off
Dont like burnin out
Every time you turn it on
Makes me want to shout
We keep getting hotter
Movin way too fast
If we dont slow this fire down
Were not gonna last
Cool the engines
Red lines gettin near
Cool the engines
Better take it out of gear
Im no fool
Im gonna keep it cool
And take it day by day
We wont know where we might go
till we take it all the way
Take me for a ride
Take me all the way
Take me where Ive never been
Someplace I can stay
Dont get yourself too hot
Dont get yourself too high
If we dont take it easy now
We can kiss it all goodbye
Cool the engines
Slow this rocket down
Cool the engines
Why dont ya take a look around
Im no fool, gonna keep it cool
Take it day by day
We wont know where we might go
till we take it all the way
Cool the engines
Cool the engines
Goin over the line
Goin off the dial
Runnin out of time
And its gettin wild
Got flashin lights
Goin round and round
Until we get it right
Better cool it down
Better cool it down.
Cool the engines.
And now were on our way
No need to hurry just to get from day to day
And i, oooh, I know
We dont have to run that hard to get where we can go.
Cool the engines.
Cool the engines down.
Cool the engines.
Cool the engines down.
(scholz, sheehan)
song performed by by Boston
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Hope or despair?
It is November,
clamness rules.
After an arduous chase,
the black horse eventually stops.
Still, only its shadow follows behind.
The gigantic tree,
acting like a shadowy shelter,
the black horse is standing underneath,
weeping.
The wind is blowing heavily,
scourging the black horse cruelly,
tormenting it toughly,
a dire punishment.
A precipice is nearby,
the black horse is gawking at the edge of it,
without closing its eyes for a night,
a desperate look.
The sun is rising very slowly,
coming up over the horizon,
shaking out light to the cloudless sky gradually,
the pale white and the deep blue combine and the clouds turn blue.
Leaves on the trees sparkle,
down below a flower shines,
eyes of beasts glitter,
neigh of the black horse breaks out.
The world emerges from darkness,
every cloud has a silver lining,
even a ray of hope,
come on, don't give up.
(18th of August,2004)
poem by Trino Chan
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Dreams and Shadows
Flames, dreams, candles, shadows,
All dance in sight.
Flames on a far, dim hill, or near,
Close, in the night.
Torches, running in shadows,
Across the dry valley.
Candles nearby, flames alike,
Join in swift memory.
Lost wanderers, walking in realms,
Realms of cold darkness.
Stars fly to us, and dance, on the white,
Cold, flowing stillness.
Flames, and light, leap high, in the far,
Gray, hopeless distance;
On a ridge, hidden away, and dance,
Dance their reckless dance.
poem by Jerome Brooke
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Shades Of Gray (Master Backing Track Take 98)
When the world and I were young, just yesterday
Life was such a simple game a child could play
It was easy then to tell right from wrong
Easy then to tell weak from strong
When a man should stand and fight
Or just go along
But today, there is no day or night
Today, there is no dark or light
Today, there is no black or white
Only shades of gray
I remember when the answer seemed so clear
We had never lived with doubt, or tasted fear
It was easy then to tell truth from lies
Selling out from compromise
Who to love and who to hate
The foolish from the wise
But today, there is no day or night
Today, there is no dark or light
Today, there is no black or white
Only shades of gray
It was easy then to know what was fair
When to keep and when to share
How much to protect your heart
And how much to care
But today, there is no day or night
Today, there is no dark or light
Today, there is no black or white
Only shades of gray
Only shades of gray
song performed by by Monkees
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Storm
The silken threads of darkness
weave their way across the sky
causing day to turn to night.
Rolling clouds clash together
bringing spears of light and sound
and then one cries a million teardrops
to splash upon the ground.
More dark clouds rumble together
and blue streaks momentarily
light up the darkened sky.
Everything shelters best it can
from the wanton storm
as it continues to fight
its way above their heads.
Soon the last teardrops are shed
and day returns again.
A single arch of colours
lingers under the sun
once the storm has passed
angrily on its way.
21 October 2009
poem by David Harris
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A Lover's Libation Pours Into A Silver Lake
A lover's libation pours into a silver lake
More silver than metal, it freezes into a mirror
Unscathed by human flesh, no impure hands doth take
The water of love, its purity streaming pure
Many lady like angels appear with eyes of gray
With skin pale, pale by the shadows of solitude
Whose hair is golden bright, like the sun of day
Dressing their bodies; exposed and delightfully nude
They peer into the mirror and see their lover's death
His yielding love, thy laugh and art gay
For his life he gives to their sweeten angelic breath
To live in his maiden's immortal, and in their beauty play
The wealthy cadence of love in their eyes of gray
Wert his love now hides and in them he now stay…..
poem by Kevin Michael Murphy
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Shades Of Gray
By barry mann and cyntha weil
When the world and I were young,
Just yesterday.
Live was such a simple game,
A child could play.
It was easy then to tell right from wrong.
Easy then to tell weak from strong.
When a man should stand and fight,
Or just go along.
But today there is no day or night
Today there is no dark or light.
Today there is no black or white,
Only shades of gray.
I remember when the answers seemed so clear
We had never lived with doubt or tasted fear.
It was easy then to tell truth from lies
Selling out from compromise
Who to love and who to hate,
The foolish from the wise.
But today there is no day or night
Today there is no dark or light.
Today there is no black or white,
Only shades of gray.
[instumental interlude]
It was easy then to know what was fair
When to keep and when to share.
How much to protect your heart
And how much to care.
But today there is no day or night
Today there is no dark or light.
Today there is no black or white,
Only shades of gray.
Only shades of gray.
song performed by by Monkees
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Two Nights In One Day
Black clouds descend the threshold of peace,
men hastened to sleep by irons of blood
as seraphic sheeps slaughtered
in a cascade of crimson-like drips.
Black clouds descend the threshold of peace,
soulless souls on the prowl
shrieking with cruel delight
amid feasts on maiden-heads.
Black clouds descend the threshold of peace,
black clouds everywhere,
the garlands of peace trodden by beastly souls,
leaving us two nights in one day.
poem by Azubuike Justin
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Paint It Black
I see a red door and I want it painted black,
No colors anymore I want them to turn black.
I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes,
I have to turn my head until my darkness goes.
I see a line of cars and they're all painted black,
With flowers and my love, both never to come back.
I see people turn their heads and quickly look away,
Like a new born baby it just happens ev'ry day.
I look inside myself and see my heart is black,
I see my red door and I want it painted black.
Maybe then I'll fade away and not have to face the facts,
It's not easy facing up when your whole world is black.
No more will my green sea go turn a deeper blue,
I could not forsee this thing happening to you.
If I look hard enough into the setting sun,
My love will laugh with me before the morning comes.
I see a red door and I want it painted black,
No colors anymore I want them to turn black.
I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes,
I have to turn my head until my darkness goes.
I wanna see your face painted black, black as night.
Don't wanna see the sun flyin' high in the sky.
I wanna see it painted, painted, painted, painted black, yeah!
song performed by by Deep Purple
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Dream Somehow
Come to the rescue now
Come to the rescue and stay for a little while
Come to the burning house
All of the ladybugs children are screaming fire
Come to the rescue now
Chorus
Tomorrow may change--tomorrow may change
Or it may never come
Tomorrow may change--tomorrow may change
But it may never come
Turn around--turn around--turn around--what do you see
Come to the rescue now
Come to the rescue before all our worlds collide
Life is a dream somehow
Life is speck of dust lodged in gods eye
Life is a dream somehow
Come to the rescue now
Come with a mission and come with a broken heart
Life is a dream somehow
Life is a dream and our lives are a world apart
Come to the rescue now
Chorus
Come to the rescue
Life is a dream somehow
Life is a nightmare and life is a bitter pill
(life is a dream somehow)
Life is a disneyland ride which is better still
Come to the rescue now
Life is a drowning pool
Life is a circus for fools just like you and me
Life is a mortal coil
Wrapped in cheap tin foil on a kitchen sink
Come to the rescue now
Chorus
Dreams somehow, come to the rescue now . . .
song performed by by Oingo Boingo
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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