One of Their Gods
When one of them passed through the market place
of Seleucia, toward the hour that night falls
as a tall and perfectly handsome youth,
with the joy of immortality in his eyes,
with his scented black hair,
the passers-by would stare at him
and one would ask the other if he knew him,
and if he were a Greek of Syria, or a stranger. But some,
who watched with greater attention,
would understand and stand aside;
and as he vanished under the arcades,
into the shadows and into the lights of the evening,
heading toward the district that lives
only at night, with orgies and debauchery,
and every sort of drunkenness and lust,
they would ponder which of Them he might be,
and for what suspect enjoyment
he had descended to the streets of Seleucia
from the Venerable, Most Hallowed Halls.
poem by Constantine P. Cavafy
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
Shadows She Said
there's no more place to go
the other bars are closed
the night the stranger came to town
how do you know
when you're right or wrong?
how do you know
if you hurt or if you don't?
so many people say so many things
but nobody agrees on anything
there's no more place to go
shadows she said
there's no more place to go
shadows she said
this night's an empty shell
shadows she said
and all the shadows followed after her
you burned the book of life
the cradle and the tomb
how could you ever dare
there's no more turning back
your stars lit up in flames
there's gunsmoke in the air
and yesterday you bought a brand-new car
but you don't feel like going very far
there's no more place to go...
there's no more place to go
shadows she said
there's no more place to go
shadows she said
this night's an empty shell
shadows she said
and all the shadows followed after her
here they come...
shadows she said...
and all the shadows followed after her...
shadows she said...
song performed by by Alphaville
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Standing tall
and we shall stand tall
and we shall stare you down
and you shall be enthralled
by our courage
our wisdom, our all
we shall rise from the ashes
like the phoenix grand
and you shall witness with awe
the glory when we shall stand
shoulder to stauch shoulder
like a turret against your froth
your backs shall shiver with the cold
whilst we advance, silently bold
you will want to run
you will want to cower
you will hunt for swords
for the courage to stumble forth
for the grit to match our form
and..
you shall find none
and you shall than run
and we shall watch the dust
as it settles upon your shadows
and we shall smile indulgently
as we light the evening candle
and we shall stand tall forever
and we shall stand shoulder to shoulder
till the next time you think
you have the gall
to come match our stare
to catch us, perchance, unaware...
but you shall find us forever vigilant
you shall find us forever keen
eyes glistening in the night
watching you silently....
as we stand tall forever....
poem by Wardha Jawdat
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The Witches' Glen - An Auld Tale
Gather aroon the ingle nuek
For ae eerie tale I'll tell -
'Boot a glen whar a witchy spook
Cast folk in her terrible spell.
Her hair sae black, her eyes sae green
Black Meg she was the devil's queen.
Warlocks an witches dance at night
When the full-moon turns its ken!
Thunder rides on a bolt of light
The deil's in the witches' glen!
Her hair sae black, her eyes sae green
Black Meg she was the devil's queen.
Auld trees hang o'er the twisted wynd
An' blot oot the licht o' day;
An there, there's staring eyes tae find
A stranger wha's lost their way.
Her hair sae black, her eyes sae green
Black Meg she was the devil's queen.
Frae Grennan wood she hailed an flew
A flash thru the black night wind
Come witchin hour everyin knew
She'd get a' the folks wha sinned.
Her hair sae black, her eyes sae green
Black Meg she was the devil's queen.
They burned her on Kirkmaiden hill
An' they bound her on a stake:
She chanted spells that made 'em ill
An' they pray'd for Jesus' sake.
Her hair sae black, her eyes sae green
Black Meg she was the devil's queen.
When ere ye walk the witches' glen,
Whar branches stretch oot like hands
Tak' Bible, cross an' say, Amen!
An' heed the guid Lord's commands.
Her hair sae black, her eyes sae green
Black Meg she's still there tae be seen.
poem by Patrick Scott Hogg
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Sleeping in Greece
Every detail of you I touched;
like a Greek god you are,
flesh carved in stones,
face calm as newest moon...
hair weaved in thread immortal.
While you were sleeping, I watched;
like a Greek god you are,
perfectly still,
vigorous as Samson...
delicate as a child.
Every detail of you and such,
through my fingers I've read.
Every bit I understood;
like a Greek scroll you are...
none I could read as perfectly, as you.
19Sep2012
poem by Jessel Jane Tevar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Convivial Book - Ye've Often, For Our Drunkenness,
Blamed us in ev'ry way,
And, in abuse of drunkenness,
Enough can never say.
Men, overcome by drunkenness,
Are wont to lie till day;
And yet I find my drunkenness
All night-time make me stray;
For, oh! 'tis Love's sweet drunkenness
That maketh me its prey,
Which night and day, and day and night,
My heart must needs obey,--
A heart that, in its drunkenness,
Pours forth full many a lay,
So that no trifling drunkenness
Can dare assert its sway.
Love, song, and wine's sweet drunkenness,
By night-time and by day,--
How god-like is the drunkenness
That maketh me its prey!
poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Wendy Sadd
Lost in the night, out on the streets and blown into the wind.
She was just heading for trouble when they got her downstairs.
Cut by the lights, strands of her hair just tumble from her cheeks.
She's just another caucasion in a crime worn day.
A. Inside her heart was breaking.
No-one knew what she'd been trough.
Inside her mind's escaping.
To a world that no-one knew. [End of A.]
Lost in the night, sombody said go easy on the girl.
You'll never get a confession if you treat her that way.
Two pairs of eyes shout at her face, and late into the night.
They heard a softer whisper saying "Let me go".
[Repeat A.]
B. Wendy Sadd has flown away.
Wendy found her freedom.
No-one else could follow there,
not inside the world of Wendy Sadd. [End of B.]
Somebody shouts, something is wrong and panick hits the room.
They said she looked at the ceiling and the lights went out.
Clutched in her hand, all they could find was a letter that she'd wrote.
It said try and forgive them for what they've done.
[Repeat A.]
[Repeat B two times repeating "Wendy Sadd" at the end
song performed by by Kim Wilde
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Hey Now (Girls Just Wanna Have Fun)
Don't close your eyes or I might drift away
Under the night my image bends it's shape
I'll be written on the wind like you never set a street
Heading for the moon
I reach out (echoes) My pulse begins to race (echoes)
The crashing sounds are fears I never faced
Let them echo off these waves without us, brave as they once were
Heading for the moon
Oh look how we ride over the white
And shadows they chase from behind
But just put them out of your mind
Oh heading for the moon
Don't close your eyes or I might drift away
Under the night of never ending shapes
I'll be wishing of the blue
I'll still wanna send my stars
Heading for the moon
Oh look how we ride over the white
Shadows they chase from behind
But just put them out of your mind
Oh heading for the moon oh heading for the moon
Over the white
And shadows they chase from behind
But just put them out of your mind
Heading for the moon
song performed by by Cyndi Lauper
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Heading For The Moon
Dont close your eyes
Or I might drift away
Under the night
My image bends its shape
Ill be written on the wind
Like in every sailoers dreams
Heading for the moon
I reach out (echoes)
My pulse begins to race (echoes)
The crashing sounds
Of fears Ive never faced
Let them echo off these waves
With thoughts as brave as they once were
Heading for the moon
And, look
How we write
Over the white
Shadows may chase from behind
But just put them out of your mind, oh
Heading for the moon
Dont close your eyes
Or I might drift away
Under the night
Of never ending shapes
Ill be wishing off the blue
Ill still wanna send my stars
Heading for the moon
And, look
How we write
Over the white
Shadows may chase from behind
But just put them out of your mind, oh
Heading for the moon
Ha ha
Heading for the moon
So dont close your eyes
Heading for the moon
Over the white
Your shadows may chase from behind
You might just put them out of your mind
Heading for the moon
song performed by by Cyndi Lauper
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Bring On The Night
The afternoon has gently passed me by
The evening spreads its sail against the sky
Waiting for tomorrow, just another day
God bid yesterday good-bye
Bring on the night
I couldnt spend another hour of daylight
Bring on the night
I couldnt stand another hour of daylight
The future is but a question mark
Hangs above my head, there in the dark
Cant see for the brightness is staring me blind
God bid yesterday good-bye
Bring on the night
I couldnt spend another hour of daylight
Bring on the night
I couldnt stand another hour of daylight
I couldnt spend another hour of daylight
I couldnt stand another hour of daylight
song performed by by Sting
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Tall, Dark Handsome Stranger
Im so tired of these men trying to
Impress me with nothing
The same old routine and the smooth
Fancy talking
Now I know and believe that I found
It for real
cos youre good and youre kind and
You care how I feel
I had a tall dark handsome stranger
Ive had the devil in disguise
Ive been attracted to the danger
But I was never satisfied
And I know what I like
And I like what I see in your eyes
Youre so beautiful
Ive been pushed Ive been pulled
Ive been put out and trod on
Just by taking my chances I finally
Caught on
When I see in your eyes all the love
Shining through
Im so glad I held out for somebody
Like you
I had a tall dark handsome stranger
Ive had the devil in disguise
Ive been attracted to the danger
But I was never satisfied
And I know what I like
And I like what I see in your eyes
Heaven must have sent you I know
Youre so good to me
I feel good with you
Id be such a fool to let you go
Theres something about you
I cant live without you
Ive had fast talking good looking men
At my door
Now Im a wiser woman than I was before
I had a tall dark handsome stranger
Ive had the devil in disguise
Ive been attracted to the danger
But I was never satisfied
And I know what I like
And I like what I see in your eyes
I had a tall dark handsome stranger
Ive had the devil in disguise
Ive been attracted to the danger
But I was never satisfied
And I know what I like
And I like what I see in your eyes
song performed by by Heart
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Bring On The Night
The afternoon has gently passed me by
The evening spreads itself against the sky
Waiting for tomorrow, just another day
God bid yesterday good-bye
Bring on the night
I couldn't spend another hour of daylight
Bring on the night
I couldn't stand another hour of daylight
The future is but a question mark
Hangs above my head, there in the dark
Can't see for the brightness is staring me blind
God bid yesterday good-bye
Bring on the night
I couldn't spend another hour of daylight
Bring on the night
I couldn't stand another hour of daylight
I couldn't spend another hour of daylight
I couldn't stand another hour of daylight
song performed by by Police
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Eyes Of A Stranger
[ page ]: dr. david, telephone please. dr. david
Dr. blair, dr. blair, dr. j. hamilton, dr. j hamilton
All alone now
Except for the memories
Of what we had and what we knew
Everytime I try to leave it behind me
I see something that reminds me of you
Every night the dreams return to haunt me
Your rosary wrapped around your throat
I lie awake and sweat, afraid to fall asleep
I see your face looking back at me
And I raise my head and stare
Into the eyes of a stranger
Ive always known that the mirror never lies
People always turn away
From the eyes of a stranger
Afraid to know what
Lies behind the stare
Is this all thats left
Of my life before me
Straight jacket memories, sedative highs
No happy ending like theyve always promised
Theres got to be something left for me
And I raise my head and stare
Into the eyes of a stranger
Ive always known that the mirror never lies
People always turn away
From the eyes of a stranger
Afraid to know what
Lies behind the stare [lies behind my stare]
How many times must I live this tragedy
How many more lies will they tell me
All I want is the same as everyone
Why am I here, and for how long
And I raise my head and stare
Into the eyes of a stranger
Ive always known that the mirror never lies
People always turn away
From the eyes of a stranger
Afraid to know what
Lies behind the stare
song performed by by Queensryche
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Prelude
As evening falls,
And the yellow lights leap one by one
Along high walls
And along black streets that glisten as if with rain,
The muted city seems
Like one in a restless sleep who lies and dreams
Of vague desires, vague memories, and half-forgotten pain
Along dark veins like lights the quick dreams run,
Flash, are extinguished, flash again,
To mingle and glow at last in the enormous brain
And die away
As evening falls,
A dream dissolves these insubstantial walls,
A myriad secretly gliding lights lie bare.
The lover rises, the harlot combs her hair,
The dead man's face grows blue in the dizzy lamplight,
The watchman climbs the stair
The bank-defaulter leers at a chaos of figures
And runs among them and is beaten down ;
The sick man coughs, and hears the chisels ringing;
The tired clown
Sees the enormous crowd—a million faces
Motionless in their places,
Ready to laugh, and seize, and crush, and tear ....
The dancer smooths her hair,
Laces her golden slippers and runs through the door
To dance once more,
Hearing swift music like an enchantment rise,
Feeling the praise of a thousand eyes.
As darkness falls,
The walls grow luminous and warm, the walls
Tremble and glow with the lives within them moving,
Moving like music, secret and rich and warm.
How shall we live tonight, where shall we turn?
To what new light or darkness yearn ?
A thousand winding stairs lead down before us;
And one by one in myriads we descend
By lamp-lit flowered walls, long balustrades,
Through half-lit halls which reach no end.
poem by Conrad Potter Aiken
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The House Of Dust: Part 03: 01: As evening falls
As evening falls,
And the yellow lights leap one by one
Along high walls;
And along black streets that glisten as if with rain,
The muted city seems
Like one in a restless sleep, who lies and dreams
Of vague desires, and memories, and half-forgotten pain . . .
Along dark veins, like lights the quick dreams run,
Flash, are extinguished, flash again,
To mingle and glow at last in the enormous brain
And die away . . .
As evening falls,
A dream dissolves these insubstantial walls,—
A myriad secretly gliding lights lie bare . . .
The lovers rise, the harlot combs her hair,
The dead man's face grows blue in the dizzy lamplight,
The watchman climbs the stair . . .
The bank defaulter leers at a chaos of figures,
And runs among them, and is beaten down;
The sick man coughs and hears the chisels ringing;
The tired clown
Sees the enormous crowd, a million faces,
Motionless in their places,
Ready to laugh, and seize, and crush and tear . . .
The dancer smooths her hair,
Laces her golden slippers, and runs through the door
To dance once more,
Hearing swift music like an enchantment rise,
Feeling the praise of a thousand eyes.
As darkness falls
The walls grow luminous and warm, the walls
Tremble and glow with the lives within them moving,
Moving like music, secret and rich and warm.
How shall we live tonight? Where shall we turn?
To what new light or darkness yearn?
A thousand winding stairs lead down before us;
And one by one in myriads we descend
By lamplit flowered walls, long balustrades,
Through half-lit halls which reach no end.
poem by Conrad Potter Aiken
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Wendy Said
Written by ricky & marty wilde
Lost in the night, out on the streets
And blown into the wind
She was just heading for trouble
When they got her downstairs
Cut by the lights, strands of her hair
Just tumble from her cheeks
Shes just another caucasion in a crime worn day
Inside her heart was breaking
No-one knew what shed been through
Inside her minds escaping
To a world that no-one knew
Lost in the night, somebody said go easy on the girl
Youll never get a confession
If you treat her that way
Two pairs of eyes shout at her face and late into the night
They heard a softer whisper saying
Let me go
Inside her heart was breaking
No-one knew what shed been through
Inside her minds escaping
To a world that no-one knew
Wendy sadd has flown away
Wendy found her freedom
No-one else could follow there
Not inside the world of wendy sadd
Somebody shouts, something is wrong and panick hits the room
They said she looked at the ceiling and the lights went out
Clutched in her hand
All they could find was a letter that shed wrote
It said try and forgive them
For what theyve done
Inside her heart was breaking
No-one knew what shed been through
Inside her minds escaping
To a world that no-one knew
Wendy sadd has flown away
Wendy found her freedom
No-one else could follow there
Not inside the world of wendy sadd
song performed by by Kim Wilde
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Shadows And Tall Trees
Back to the cold restless streets at night
I talk to myself about tomorrow night
Walls of white protest
A gravestone in name
Who is it now
It's always the same
Who is it now
Who calls me inside
Are the leaves on the trees
Just living disguise
I walk sweet rain tragicomedy
I'll walk home again
to the street melody
But I know, oh no
But I know, oh no
But I know...
Shadows and tall trees
Shadows and tall trees
Shadows and tall trees
Shadows and tall trees
Life through a window
Discoloured pain
Mrs. Brown's washing is always the same
I walk street rain tragicomedy
I'll walk home again
to the street melody
But I know, oh no
But I know, oh no
But I know...
(Out there)
Do you feel in me...
Anything redeeming
Any worthwhile feeling
Is love like a tightrope
Hanging from the ceiling
But I know, oh no
But I know, oh no
But I know...
Shadows and Tall Trees
song performed by by U2
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Illume (9-11)
Illume says the candle that I burn
A reflection in the window
All the way to Point Dune
Illume-like it dances
I am a cliff dweller
From the old school
I like the coastal cities
I like the lights...
I like the way the ocean blends
Into the city at night
Like living on a working river
This coastline is glittering
Like a diamond snake
In a black sky
I'm alone now
With my thoughts
Of how we could make it
Of how we could get out
What we've been through
All of the trauma
The smell of Nag Champra
Shadow of a stranger
I will not take you for granted
I wouldn't trade you for jade
Or for diamonds
Not for one minute
Not for anything
I need you to be there
Just remember when I am haunted
That I was just so scared
I'm alone now
With my thoughts
Of how we could make it
Of how we could get out
What we've been through
All of the trauma
The smell of Nag Champra
Shadows of a stranger
What I saw on this journey
I saw history go down
I cannot pretend
That the heartache falls away
It's just like a river
Ooh, it's never ending
I cannot pretend
That the heartache falls away
Because it's just like a river
It's never ending
It's just like a river
It's never ending
I'm alone now
With my thoughts
Of how we could make it
How we could get out
What we've been through
And all of the trauma
The smell of Nag Champra
Shadow of a stranger
(What I saw on this journey... I saw history go down)
(I cannot pretend...that the heartache falls away)
(It's just like a river...ooh, it's never ending)
(I cannot pretend that the heartache falls away)
I'm alone now
With my thoughts
How we could make it
Of how we could get out
What we've been through
All of the trauma
The smell of Nag Champra
Shadows of the strangers
What I saw on this journey, what legends are made of
I cannot pretend that the heartache falls away
Just like a river, ooh, it's never ending
No, I cannot pretend that the heartache falls away
Because it's just like a river, it's never ending
Falls away...like a river, it's never ending...
La la la la... la la la la...
La la la la... la la la la...
song performed by by Fleetwood Mac
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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City Streets
The gaudy glow of neon lights
dispels the darkness of the nights
on city streets.
They pop and fizzle noisily
creating a cacophony
on city streets.
The sober folks walk warily
and drunks stagger uncaringly
on city streets.
The ladies of the night parade
for there is money to be made
on city streets.
Drug dealers ready to retreat
if they should hear a coppers feet
on city streets.
The night shift workers wend their way
towards their work to start their day
on city streets.
The noisy revellers thin out
as one by one the signs go out
on city streets.
The gradually noises abate
and ghostly shadow congregate
on city streets.
For some few hours peace will reign
before the noise will start again
on city streets.
The early morning traffic sounds
start with the milkmen on their rounds
on city streets.
This builds up to an angry roar
as cars and lorries inward pour
on city streets
then when at last rush hour has passed
noise levels will subside at last
on city streets
I thank the lord that I am free
to leave this noise far behind me
on city streets.
I walked my beat the whole night
through exactly as I’m paid to do
on city streets.
I choose to live outside the town
where constant noise won’t get me down
on city streets.
My village is a quiet place
A haven where I need not face
the noisy streets.
8-Jun-07
poeticpiers
poem by Ivor Or Ivor.e Hogg
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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(Do Not) Stand In The Shadows
Hearts which beat to a precise beat
Fading shadows on the wall
We'll cut our cards
Drive out bars
All for one, one for all.
Like teenage heat
And carnival cheats
With your heart on your sleeve
Well you know you wanna run
You won't hide
And you jump like a son of a gun
Do not stand in the shadows
Do not stand in the shadows
Do not stand in the shadows
Do not stand in the shadows
Oh alone and lonely
Watching people on my wall
Well Mama and Dadda thought they had me fooled
I was thinking not at all
Well I got out
Not gonna stand
In the dark without a light
Forgetting love if you believe that chance
Sit and wait
Do not stand in the shadows
Do not stand in the shadows
in the shadows
Do not stand in the shadows
Do not stand in the shadows
Do not stand in the shadows
Do not stand in the shadows
And now the judge is down feeling
all around yeah
Lifting to a blast this sound
No preachers, teachers
Pick our minds
To the sounds of false alarm
They're here today
And they hear you say
You're alive and you're living with me
So don't try to hide
And don't try to die
In the dark of the night
Do not stand in the shadows
Do not stand in the shadows
Do not stand in the shadows
Do not stand in the shadows
Do not stand in the shadows
Do not stand in the shadows
In the shadows, in the shadows
Do not stand in the shadows
song performed by by Billy Idol
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Stand In The Shadows
Hearts which beat to a precise beat
Fading shadows on the wall
We'll cut our cards
Drive out bars
All for one, one for all.
Like teenage heat
And carnival cheats
With your heart on your sleeve
Well you know you wanna run
You won't hide
And you jump like a son of a gun
Do not stand in the shadows
Do not stand in the shadows
Do not stand in the shadows
Do not stand in the shadows
Oh alone and lonely
Watching people on my wall
Well mama and dadda thought they had me fooled
I was thinking not at all
Well i got out
Not gonna stand
In the dark without a light
Forgetting love if you believe that chance
Sit and wait
Do not stand in the shadows
Do not stand in the shadows
In the shadows
Do not stand in the shadows
Do not stand in the shadows
Do not stand in the shadows
Do not stand in the shadows
And now the judge is down feeling
All around yeah
Lifting to a blast this sound
No preachers, teachers
Pick our minds
To the sounds of false alarm
They're here today
And they hear you say
You're alive and you're living with me
So don't try to hide
And don't try to die
In the dark of the night
Do not stand in the shadows
Do not stand in the shadows
Do not stand in the shadows
Do not stand in the shadows
Do not stand in the shadows
Do not stand in the shadows
In the shadows, in the shadows
Do not stand in the shadows
song performed by by Billy Idol
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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