Two in the Head
Zenobia Jackson told Officer Murphy
that her husband, Rufus,73 years old,
was 'a wonderful man when he was awake'
but he had been jerking 'something terrible'
during his sleep and kept waking her up.
He'd swing his arms, she said,
like all those martial arts men on television.
But when the bouts were over, he'd kiss her
on the forehead and go to bed.
'He was just a doll, ' she said,
'when he was awake.'
In the last month, however,
Rufus had fallen out of bed three times
'fighting' in his dreams.
In the morning he'd explain
he had been dreaming
that he was in a fight at work.
Sometimes he dreamt
he was shooting at burglars
breaking into their house
in the old neighborhood.
That's why they had to move
and that's why he bought a gun,
a little pistol he kept under his pillow.
He even taught her how to shoot one night
when no one else was on the tennis courts
in Sherman Park. She was pretty good, he said,
because most women can't aim.
But last night, she said, Rufus was dreaming again
and he swung his arms like he was chopping
sugar cane in Louisiana before they moved North.
He caught her with an elbow to the eye
and another to the nose just as she was ducking.
Long ago, she'd stopped trying to wake him
because of the pistol under his pillow.
He had reached for it once after she had shaken him.
She screamed and that woke him up
and he wasn't too happy about it.
He said he couldn't sleep the rest of the night.
And he wasn't lying because she was awake all night, too,
listening to him grumble and curse.
A week ago she had taken Rufus to a sleep clinic
where he had stayed overnight and the doctor said
he was suffering from sleep apnea. But she had never heard
of sleep apnea causing someone to thrash and kick like Rufus.
She sang with a lady in the choir at church
whose husband had sleep apnea
but all he ever did 'was snore too loud, '
no thrashing about.
'So that's how it happened, '
Zenobia told Officer Murphy
who was very busy taking notes.
Rufus had reached under the pillow
for the pistol and she had to stop him.
No one else was around to help her.
'Two in the head, ' she said,
'and he be dead.'
poem by Donal Mahoney
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Related quotes
Where Is Rufus and What did Rufus Do?
Where is Rufus?
Was he walking down Fifth Avenue?
Was he carrying his 'light'...
To shine upon the masses leaning
On the slime slicked walls,
Of the caverns he enjoys?
Where is that boy?
'Rufus? '
I'm surprised he's not behind you now,
Minting his breath with peppermint shield...
As If to conceal his devotion to rock bottom!
Trying to hide the current 'opportunities' taken!
Everyone knows Rufus when he's 'fakin'!
There is no mistaking that!
A 'fakin' crook will hold you back!
Where is Rufus?
I thought you two met on Trumbull and Pratt?
Remember I was 'told' to stay where I was at?
You've got to remember how I balled my fist?
You don't remember this?
How about my ready to fight tight lips?
When you do see Rufus...
Tell him I want my wallet back!
I'm not a grinning politician,
I will kick his ass for that!
If he wants to see me evil...
Evil will be his in attack!
I'm not on that kind of mission,
I've reconditioned my position!
I hate to see him strung out like this,
He needs to end my suspicions,
By facing his condition!
'RUFUS? '
Where is Rufus?
Don't hide his lieing ways,
Or try to keep him from his grave!
Unless you're here to get your pay!
Where is Rufus?
And what did he say?
And why are you looking,
Like you laid Rufus away?
Did he take you like he took me too?
Is that why you look at me like you do?
Where is Rufus?
He got you and you're screwed! ?
So you did him in,
To never do that again to you?
Where is Rufus?
'Rufus? '
And what did Rufus do? ?
Why do you have blood on your hands?
And why is there mud on your shoes?
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Mad Issues
[Angie] Uh huh
[Rufus] Hey baby
[Angie] I think I wanna just rap to ya for just a second
[Rufus] 'Bout what
[Angie] Cuz there's some things we got to change
In order to move forward
[Rufus] Whatchu talking about?
[Angie] Because I believe in you
[Rufus] You believe in me?
[Angie] All things are possible
[Rufus] Uh huh
[Angie] You just chill
song performed by by Angie Stone from Mahogany Soul
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
I Cant Sleep
(kathy louvin/mark collie)
I cant sleep
For dreaming about you
When youre gone
Theres nothing I can do
But lie awake alone
And dream the whole night through
I cant sleep
For dreaming about you
I close my weary eyes
And see your face
I hold my pillow tight
And dream of your embrace
I know that I could use the rest
But my lonely heart cries out for your caress
I cant sleep
For dreaming about you
When youre gone
Theres nothing I can do
But lie awake alone
And dream the whole night through
I cant sleep
For dreaming about you
They say that absence makes a love grow stronger
But I dont believe my empty arms can hold out any longer
I cant sleep
For dreaming about you
When youre gone
Theres nothing I can do
But lie awake alone
And dream the whole night through
I cant sleep
For dreaming about you
I cant sleep
For dreaming about you
song performed by by Martina Mcbride
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Sleepless On My Pillow
I'm sleepless on my pillow
just thinking of you,
remembering just what it's like to sleep
the whole night through.
I'm not too bad in daytime
when you're not here.
But when the nights come
and you're not here
I think of you and wonder
how I'll fall asleep?
Don't want to turn the light out
for I know I'll just be
Sleepless on my pillow
just thinking of you,
remembering what it's like to sleep
the whole night through.
I wonder if you're awake
just like me?
Or are you peaceful,
sleeping silently?
When you come home again
I sleep through the night,
never waking up until
the morning light.
But when you have to leave me
for a little while,
it's then I hate those nights again
for I know that I'll be
Sleepless on my pillow
thinking just of you,
remembering what it's like to sleep
the whole night through.
poem by Edwina Reizer
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Ole' Rufus
A field of white petals with a yellow center
As far as the eye could see
Not a flower most prefer
Wild and free
Slinking and stalking
Old Rufus the cat
Listen closely and you can hear his squawking
As he spies an opossum rat
Twice his size
But ole’ Rufus is fearless
Green eyes spy and off he flies
A giant pounce and success
Rolled up in a ball
Mr. Opossum plays his role
Playing his death call
Confirming his triumph with a swipe of kitty’s claw
And ole’ Rufus is back on the prowl
Guarding his territory
Giving his master a good morning howl
Then pouncing off to begin another story
poem by Patricia Gale
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Let The Night Sleep
Let the night sleep
Sleep for ever deep
With the night I sleep
Beyond the world to peep
Universe will sleep
Plants and trees
Birds and bees
Stars and moon
To sleep very soon!
Fruits and flowers
Joy with showers
Will sleep with me and the night
Not to keep the life very tight!
No dawn of the day
Right upto the dooms day!
Sleep permanent
In the world impermanent
I'll sleep without light
My agonies will sleep
My worries will sleep
My pains will sleep
My sins will sleep!
While in sleep
I am pure
I am peace
I am noble!
While my body is asleep
Awake my soul I keep
Sleep akin to death
Death akin to sleep in mirth?
Let the night sleep
Sleep for ever deep
With night I sleep
Sleep to eternity
Soul to merge in Divinity!
poem by Subbaraman N V
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Autopilot
I can sleep, but I won't rest
I'll try to rest, but I'll only sleep
My dreams were once my escape
My nights held my happy days
Awake, I was depresed
Alseep, I had energy
I'd cry myself to sleep
Then I'd cry no more
Spreading my wings
I'd laugh under night's sun
Flying around the world
I'd make a hundred friends
Throwing fire and ice
I'd defeat all my enemies
Then I would wake up
And happiness fled
Walking through autopilot
In a world that wasn't real
Looking but never seeing
I'd cry under day's moon
Existing but never living
I'd avoid everyone
Closing my eyes
I'd hide from any enemies
I once rested
In the chaos of my dreams
The loud sleeping happiness
Was better than the quiet waking sadness
But things have changed
In a moment, a lifetime
Awake, I am content
Asleep, I am upset
If I sleep, I dream
When I dream, I fear
Running in terror
Crying in death
I see faces unkown
And know pain unfelt
I once looked for sleep to find rest
Now I avoid sleep so not to lose rest
My heaven became my hell
My hallucination became my shelter
I do not sleep, I do not rest
Tired, but I am happy
A new kind of autopilot
Which existance is worse?
Awake, I fear sleep coming
Asleep, I cannot wake
Never resting, only existing
Life on autopilot
poem by Juvela Obi
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
How Do You Sleep ?
So sgt. pepper took you by surprise
You better see right through that mothers eyes
Those freaks was right when they said you was dead
The one mistake you made was in your head
Ah, how do you sleep?
Ah, how do you sleep at night?
You live with straights who tell you you was king
Jump when your momma tell you anything
The only thing you done was yesterday
And since youre gone youre just another day
Ah, how do you sleep?
Ah, how do you sleep at night?
Ah, how do you sleep?
Ah, how do you sleep at night?
A pretty face may last a year or two
But pretty soon theyll see what you can do
The sound you make is muzak to my ears
You must have learned something in all those years
Ah, how do you sleep?
Ah, how do you sleep at night?
song performed by by Lennon John
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
How Do You Sleep?
So sergeant pepper took you by surprise,
You better see right thru that mothers eyes.
Those freaks was right when they said you was dead,
The one mistake you made was in your head.
Oh - how do you sleep?
Oh - how do you sleep at night?
You live with straights who tell you, you was king,
Jump when your mama tell you anything.
The only thing you done was yesterday,
And since youre gone youre just another day.
Oh - how do you sleep?
Oh - how do you sleep at night?
Oh - how do you sleep?
Oh - how do you sleep at night?
A pretty face may last a year or two,
But pretty soon theyll see what you can do.
The sound you make is muzak to my ears,
You must have learned something in all those years.
Oh - how do you sleep?
Oh - how do you sleep at night?
song performed by by Yoko Ono
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
How Do You Sleep?
So sergeant pepper took you by surprise,
You better see right thru that mothers eyes.
Those freaks was right when they said you was dead,
The one mistake you made was in your head.
Oh - how do you sleep?
Oh - how do you sleep at night?
You live with straights who tell you, you was king,
Jump when your mama tell you anything.
The only thing you done was yesterday,
And since youre gone youre just another day.
Oh - how do you sleep?
Oh - how do you sleep at night?
Oh - how do you sleep?
Oh - how do you sleep at night?
A pretty face may last a year or two,
But pretty soon theyll see what you can do.
The sound you make is muzak to my ears,
You must have learned something in all those years.
Oh - how do you sleep?
Oh - how do you sleep at night?
song performed by by Yoko Ono
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Sleeper
Sleep that half dead,
sleep the body not the head.
Sleep that bad said,
Poor owns that bed,
Dreams are found on that herd.
Sleep while awake,
Sleep that dead not closed eye fake.
Sleep that weak,
Tommorow u gona take.
Eat that sleep and enjoy its steak.
Sleep still stands,
None to overtake.
Sleep that height dare for cake.
Sleep that stress and have the bless,
Sleep to confess as she do to embrance,
Sleep for paid cash as he do to love false.
Sleep that sleep as no one sleep ever deep.
Sleep that better as no other sleeper.
Wear that sweater as did Brother Peter,
Sleep that firm to dream that greater,
Sleep not slopy arrise all the weaker.
poem by Abdallah Mpogole
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
An Angry Smile...
Bright shiney teeth that could outshine the moon at night
Glowing eyes, lashes were natural I hate make-up
The foundation that keeps my nation out of the light
I fell for her thoughts, they way she thinks of make up
She said its non African, something foreign
It would make her look foreign...
To her culture, demolished imposter
That was her closure...
Beauty Magazines is not her style...she has her own style! ! !
By: Rufus Thupana Mashao
a.k.a Roof
poem by Rufus Mashao
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
The Mix-Up
One winter morning
Upon awakening from a long night sleep
All characters got mixed up with their authors
Including Pinocchio
Who could not decide what was real:
Had he dreamt of being Carlo Collodi
Or was it that Carlo Collodi was dreaming
Of being Pinocchio?
This occurred long after
Upon awakening from a long night sleep
Zhuang Zi woke up from his dream
And was at a loss to figure out
How real was real and asked:
Had he dreamt of being a butterfly
Or was it rather that a butterfly
Was dreaming of being Zhuang Zi?
The next day
As she woke up from a long night sleep
An elephant got mixed up with a crocodile
And she could not decide what was real:
Had she dreamt of being a crocodile
Or was it rather that a crocodile
Was dreaming of being an elephant?
Two years later
Upon awakening from a long night sleep
The moon became confused with the sun
And it could not decide what was real:
Had it dreamt of being the sun
Or was it that the sun was dreaming
Of being the moon?
And in a rare unguarded state of mind
Upon awakening from a long night sleep
God got embarrassed for the muddle
But she could not decide what was real:
Had she dreamt of being Man
Or was it rather that Man
Was dreaming of being God?
poem by Paul Hartal
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Maria's Lullaby
An extract from a poem written for my grandchildren to Brahms Lullaby
Sleep; little mice sleep
Mother will watch over you
Shut your eyes and don't peek
Tomorrow the skies will be blue
Sleep; little mice sleep.
Sleep; little mice sleep
No harm will come whilst I am here
The sun has gone down by the peak
When the day dawns it will appear
Sleep; little mice sleep.
Sleep; little mice sleep
Your father is watching the house
That no owl or cat dares to seek
Harm to creatures or mouse
Sleep; little mice sleep.
Sleep; little mice sleep
Tomorrow you run and play
Now is not time to speak
When you awake a new day
Sleep; little mice sleep.
Sleep; little mice sleep
Rest now for your own sake
Shut your eyes now be asleep
I will be here when you awake
Sleep; little mice sleep.
poem by Thomas Golding
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Bone Against Steel
Rollin' out to Vegas
On an eastbound outta L.A.
I met a roughneck man who hailed from Alabama
His eyes had a lot to say
And his name was Rufus Champion
They call that train the desert wind
And it blew like a mutha that day
Thru the Joshua Trees
We were battin' the breeze
About our rock'n roll heros
Dead or alive
Chorus:
Out across that night did we sail
Bone against steel against the rail
Boats against the stream
Cutting against the grain
Kept on rollin'
Bone against steel
As the moon rose in the window
Rufus began his tale
About an oil rig near the gulf coast
Puttin' man against metal
In a classic work-place accident
He told how the drill commenced to shakin'
The platform started to rock
The chain began breaking
They were straight out of luck
And then the sky kinda lite up
Just like a lightnin' bolt had struck
Chorus:
Workmen's compensation don't compensate for much
With the doctors and lawyers and the IRS and such
You can break up the bone
But the spirit just won't bust
When is bone against steel
With casino lights up a shimmering
We made that Vegas stop
And we laughed away our blues
Now here's the good news
Rufus walks off heels a kickin'
With his baby right by his side
And as they waltzed on out of view
We were back up to speed
And clean outta sight
Double chorus
song performed by by 38 Special
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Sleep Comes Down
it's raining in my head
but no tears come down
and i'm dreaming of you
until sleep comes around
sleep comes down sleep comes down
sleep comes down sleep comes down
the orchestra's playing
it's so very loud
and i'm biting my nails
until sleep comes around
sleep comes down sleep comes down
sleep comes down sleep comes down
the clouds are all running
but no tears come down
and i'm thinking of you
until sleep comes around
sleep comes down sleep comes down
sleep comes down sleep comes down
song performed by by Flaming Lips
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
He Does Not Sleep That Well At Night
He does not sleep that well at night though his troubles are small
The possums walking on his roof the rats squeak in the wall,
The boobook owl is crying mopoke on the trees across the way
He used to sleep without once waking till after break of day.
He does not sleep that well at night his wife beside him snore
He lay beside her wide awake for three hours sometimes more
The moon shines through the window pane he hear the plover cry
And the hunting fox is barking in the old paddock nearby.
He does not sleep that well at night he lay in bed awake
And the voices of the nocturnal creatures he cannot mistake
The frogs are singing in the ponds to tell that rain is near
And occasionally the barking of the neighbourhood dogs he hear.
He goes to bed at ten o clock but he doesn't get to sleep till around two
Although he must get up to go to work at seven still his worries seem so few
Compared to some who do sleep well with him it used not to be this way
He often slept for ten hours straight till after break of day.
poem by Francis Duggan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Afraid To Sleep
We slept in this room together but now youre gone
And its so quiet I turn the tv on
We lived in this room together we painted the walls
Now time doesnt stand still
It crawls
And Im afraid to sleep
Cuz if I do I dream of you
And dreams are always deep
On the pillow where I weep
I never realized how much I was in love with you
Until you started sleeping with someone new
Last night I dreamed again and you were there
You kissed my face you touched my hair
And Im afraid to sleep
Cuz if I do I dream of you
And dreams are always deep
On the pillow where I weep
Lying alone in the darkness with a memory in my head
Theres a big hole where my heart is
And a lonely feeling rollin round my bed
And Im afraid to sleep
Cuz if I do I dream of you
Im afraid to sleep
Cuz if I do I dream of you
And dreams are always deep
On the pillow where I weep
On the pillow where I weep
Im afraid to sleep.
song performed by by Dido
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Lullaby
Sleep, pretty lady, the night is enfolding you;
Drift, and so lightly, on crystalline streams.
Wrapped in its perfumes, the darkness is holding you;
Starlight bespangles the way of your dreams.
Chorus the nightingales, wistfully amorous;
Blessedly quiet, the blare of the day.
All the sweet hours may your visions be glamorous-
Sleep, pretty lady, as long as you may.
Sleep, pretty lady, the night shall be still for you;
Silvered and silent, it watches you rest.
Each little breeze, in its eagerness, will for you
Murmur the melodies ancient and blest.
So in the midnight does happiness capture us;
Morning is dim with another day's tears.
Give yourself sweetly to images rapturous-
Sleep, pretty lady, a couple of years.
Sleep, pretty lady, the world awaits day with you;
Girlish and golden, the slender young moon.
Grant the fond darkness its mystical way with you;
Morning returns to us ever too soon.
Roses unfold, in their loveliness, all for you;
Blossom the lilies for hope of your glance.
When you're awake, all the men go and fall for you-
Sleep, pretty lady, and give me a chance.
poem by Dorothy Parker
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Lonely is the Night without a Pillow
dear dream please forgive my eyes
if the night closely peep the
morning sunlight, for nothing leaves the crickets
awake of sweet melody until everybody will greet
the morning glory of the stars asleep
twig the ray of every tree for the wind, gallops to
lay, snore the thundering rugged stream down
to the river flow as it
sing, and looks the night as it wait the morning sky,
wondering how it goes in the tick tock of the clock
oh! ladder of every dream, a pillow comes closer my
dear pillow,
for I will make you stay in my bed with a kiss
in your head, do what the eyes and the lips say and
make my day happy as you'll be
sleep my wonderful buddy the night comes in like a
flake of snow cool as it touches your body.....
poem by Antonio Liao
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!