1951
Alone at night
in the wet city
the country's wit
is not memorable.
The wind has blown
all the trees down
but these anxieties
remain erect, being
the heart's deliberate
chambers of hurt
and fear whether
from a green apartment
seeming diamonds or
from an airliner
seeming fields. It's
not simple or tidy
though in rows of
rows and numbered;
the literal drifts
colorfully and
the hair is combed
with bridges, all
compromises leap
to stardom and lights.
If alone I am
able to love it,
the serious voices,
the panic of jobs,
it is sweet to me.
Far from burgeoning
verdure, the hard way
in this street.
poem by Frank O'Hara
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Related quotes
Tombstones!
rows and rows of tombstones,
glaring white in the morning sun...
with open graves before them,
and the smell of fresh turned earth.
cars speed by going nowhere;
people walking, as if lost....
the phone rings, no one answers,
the book, unread, stares from the shelf.
trees almost bare softly whisper,
dollar bills blown by the wind...
the old man sits by the station,
counting by number,
and not by name....
rows and rows of tombstones,
waiting for gifts unwrapped
by time!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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The City
the city was once
a forest of trees
when the pioneers
arrive with their axes
and each tree fell
and the river swollen
mothers had to have
more children
and fathers had to
plow more fields
and plant the rows and
rows of corn
as monkeys on top
of the remaining trees
tease
the grasshoppers
find enough sleep
and the ants keep
on building their
empire on mounds
and mounds of
dry land
that was how
a city was formed
my father said
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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Church Street, Pretoria
Right down the street the traffic lights are green
and a couple of homeless men stand around a fire
in a half drum and ambulances and police cars scream
while they past rows and rows of flats for hire
and a couple of kids stand smoking at the stream
and this is reality, the heart of the city.
On the sidewalk pedestrians walk in crowds of men,
women and some children, some booted up to the knee
others with mini skirts short enough to condemn them
and my city stays lovely to me.
People queue for fried chicken, fish
and chips at shops and cafés and the smells fill my nose
and tomatoes and onions, lamb and steak are fried with a hiss
and in the traffic an angry speed-cop tries to retain his pose
when a minibus taxi almost runs him over, gives him a fright
at a flickering traffic light
and cars stream by into the coming night.
poem by Gert Strydom
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Take Me Back To The Country
Well this big city life is gettin me down
Theres just too many people around
Theres dirt in the air and crime in the street
High-rise buildings and cold concrete
This rat race sure enough takes a toll
I wanna run off to my fishin hole
Take me back take me back
Take me back to the country
Take me back take me back
Take me back to the country
Chorus:
Where the stars at night
Outshine those city lights
Take me back to the country
Where the eagles fly
And the treetops touch the sky
Take me back to the country
This traffic jam is makin me mad
I miss the simple life I had
Peace and quite runnin free
I wanna go home to my family
Im sick of the clock, sick of the phone
Out in the country my times my own
Take me back take me back
Take me back to the country
Take me back take me back
Take me back to the country
Chorus:
Where the stars at night
Outshine those city lights
Take me back to the country
Where the eagles fly
And the treetops touch the sky
Take me back to the country
Where the stars at night
Outshine those city lights
Take me back to the country
Where the eagles fly
And the treetops touch the sky
Take me back to the country
Take me back to the country
song performed by by Dolly Parton
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Golden Rain
Summer gleams in heated rays,
across the shimmering plain.
Awaiting autumn's cooling breeze,
when leaves fall ~ like golden rain.
Rows and rows of harvest lay,
a bounty's sweet repose.
Fate sealed by the reaper's hand,
when the wind of autumn blows.
Shaded with a timeless hue,
day sings sweet summer's refrain.
Awaiting autumn's cooling breeze,
when leaves fall ~ like golden rain.
Fiery flame of sun ~ now set
upon fields of summery bliss,
below horizons pinkly lit ~
by summer's parting kiss.
How fair those days of summer now.
Its warmth will not remain.
How soon the autumn ~ will take its place,
when leaves fall ~ like golden rain.
poem by Hazelmarie Elliott
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Once there came a man
Once there came a man
Who said,
"Range me all men of the world in rows."
And instantly
There was terrific clamour among the people
Against being ranged in rows.
There was a loud quarrel, world-wide.
It endured for ages;
And blood was shed
By those who would not stand in rows,
And by those who pined to stand in rows.
Eventually, the man went to death, weeping.
And those who staid in bloody scuffle
Knew not the great simplicity.
poem by Stephen Crane
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City Trees
The trees along this city street,
Save for the traffic and the trains,
Would make a sound as thin and sweet
As trees in country lanes.
And people standing in their shade
Out of a shower, undoubtedly
Would hear such music as is made
Upon a country tree.
Oh, little leaves that are so dumb
Against the shrieking city air,
I watch you when the wind has come,—
I know what sound is there.
poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay
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City Night
Night is lively.
Night is stunning
Night is pleasurable.
Night is sugary like apple pie.
Night is walking towards with hobo.
Night will never end.
Night is dark.
Night is now simple, sweet, calm, amusing.
I am in love with this city night.
City is covered with this pleasant night.
Night is having the shine of city.
Night is getting wilder.
Night is getting cruel.
Time will never stop running.
Night will over with the time.
Another night will come in this city.
I am waiting for the night.
Here city shed tears
Here city chuckle like a little kid.
Here city dance with the mysterious wind.
I am in love with this city night.
Night never stops coming.
Night will never break its rule.
It will come over and over in this cold blooded city.
But I will never stop loving this city night.
Night is resting.
It will come again into my little black book.
poem by Farzana Hossain
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I walk next to the tomato beds
I walk next to the tomato beds
in our garden and here and there
are a few fig trees
which are covered with green swelling fruit
right against the main branches.
At the back in the corner and between the tomatoes
are rows of prickly pears
and look as if they have lost their thorns
but if you look carefully
the rows of thorns are still there.
You that I see as the flower
among my flowers
who are tender and soft hearted,
are now piercing the most
as the going away cuts through me
and staying apart, stays a terrible thing
but seeing each other again,
remains a wonderful
and yet every day
I see the fruit of you selfless love.
poem by Gert Strydom
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There’s a place with rows of cypress trees
There’s a place where rows of cypress trees
stand to attention
at the foot of a rocky hillock
and there are graves planted in rows.
As a child could have sworn
that there are ghosts among the graves,
when the wind went through the trees
and shadows move at night
over the graves.
We lived fifty meters away
in a old white house
and it was only
my dad, mom, brother and me.
If I were naughty
or did not want to eat my food
a man with a hat, raincoat and dark glasses
came in through the back door.
In the evenings my dad read poetry
to me and my younger brother
and his voice with the cannibal
and the rider of skimmelperd pan
resounds in me.
Untill a day that cancer
took my dad forever,
fifty meteres further.
[References: Die mensvreter and Die ruiter van skimmelperdpan by A.G. Visser.]
poem by Gert Strydom
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Oh To Be Out In The Country
A hot day in the city and scarce a puff of breeze
Oh to be out in the country in the cool shade of the trees
In the shadow of the wattles leafing through a favourite book
Listening to the coot and black duck calling in the quiet brook.
Oh to be out in the country on this sunny Summer's day
In the hills above Wonthaggi more than eighty miles away
In the shadow of the gum trees many miles from city street
Stretched and resting on the fog grass sheltering from the mid day heat.
I feel tired of city living city life's a hard old slog
And I am sick of man's pollution sick of breathing smoke and smog
Oh to be out in the country by a creek enjoying a beer
In a World free of pollution many miles away from here.
A hot day in the city near thirty five degrees
Oh to be out in the country in the cool shade of the trees
In the shadow of the gum trees many miles from city street
Stretched and resting on the fog grass sheltering from the mid day heat.
poem by Francis Duggan
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Absence
My shadow --
I woke to a wind swirling the curtains light and dark
and the birds twittering on the roofs, I lay cold
in the early light in my room high over London.
What fear was it that made the wind sound like a fire
so that I got up and looked out half-asleep
at the calm rows of street-lights fading far below?
Without fire
Only the wind blew.
But in the dream I woke from, you
came running through the traffic, tugging me, clinging
to my elbow, your eyes spoke
what I could not grasp --
Nothing, if you were here!
The wind of the early quiet
merges slowly now with a thousand rolling wheels.
The lights are out, the air is loud.
It is an ordinary January day.
My shadow, do you hear the streets?
Are you at my heels? Are you here?
And I throw back the sheets.
Anonymous Submission
poem by Edwin Morgan
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Why Will You Gone with the Wind
Why will you gone with the wind?
Does it because you were attracted
by the peach street in that Tree City?
-it's like walking in the fragrant garden of sweet peach
when you read that historic city in a sunny spring morning.
But you should know there has walnut
besides chestnut street in this city of Brotherly Love,
-it's like walking in the golden heaven with sweet nut
when you read this lovely city in a beautiful autumn afternoon.
Gone with the wind?
The soft wind of the South
or the blue sky of the North,
Which one will be your favorite choice?
Gundi-?
Does it mean gone with the wind?
poem by by unknown author
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Wild garden
I saw rows of white,
yellow and red lilies bloom,
next to the railway tracts.
Loaded trains rattled past
and that garden,
sprang up by itself between the weeds.
With the early summer rain
rows of blue, white and pink wild flowers
bloomed next to the road that passed nearby.
Some finches nested in the trees
and red, yellow and green birds
flew past the vast garden
of earth that came alive
as far as the eye could see.
poem by Gert Strydom
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Where The Green Grass Grows
Six lanes, tail lights
Red ants marchin into the night
They disappear to the left and right again
Another supper
From a sack
A 99 cent heart attak
I got a poundin head and an achin back
And the camels standin in a big straw stack
Chorus:
Im gonna live where the green grass grows
Watch my corn pop up in rows
Every night be tucked in close to you
Raise our kids where the good lords blessed
Point our rockin chairs towards the west
And plant our dreams where the peaceful river cools
Where the green grass grows
Well Im from
A map dot
A stop sign on a blacktop
I caught the first bus that I could hop from there
But all o this glitter is gettin dark
Theres concreate glowin in the city park
I dont know who my neighbors are
And theres bars on the corner and bars on my heart
(repeat chorus 2x)
song performed by by Tim McGraw
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Diamonds Are 4 Eva
Diamonds are 4 ever, they are all I need to please me
They can stimulate and tease me
The wont leave in the night, Ive no fear that they might desert me...
Diamonds are forever, hold one up and then caress it
Touch it stroke it and undress it
I can see every part, nothing hides in the heart
To hurt me
I dont need love, for what good will love do me?
Diamonds never lie to me
For when loves gone, they luster on
they luster on...
Diamonds are forever, sparkling round my little finger
Unlike girls the diamonds linger
Girls are mere mortals who are not worth going to your grave for
I dont need love, for what good will love do me?
Diamonds never lie to me
For when loves gone, they luster on
Diamonds are forever, forever, forever, forever
And ever...
song performed by by Alphaville
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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City Lights
Oh oh I feel the city rhythm
Oh oh I love those city lights
But when the sun comes up
And the partys over
I dont care Im coming back tonight
To the bright city lights
Home from work got your money in your pocket
Pull on your boots brand new suit
If you had the chance youd hock it
For a night on the tiles
And a shot of midnight fever
Get off your back get on the track
Tune in your receiver oh oh
Oh oh I feel the city rhythm
Oh oh I love those city lights
But when the sun comes up
And the partys over
I dont care Im coming back tonight
To the bright city lights
Truck down the street feeling kinda funky
Get on the beat shuffle your feet
Never know you might get lucky
You got love on the brain
Flashing like a neon
Feed 'em a line
Give 'em a sign
Theyre looking for a come on oh oh
Oh oh I feel the city rhythm
Oh oh I love those city lights
But when the sun comes up
And the partys over
I dont care Im coming back tonight
To the bright city lights
No way to stop when the musics in your body
Into the night feel all right
No time for feeling sorry
You go down to the club
With the old familiar faces
Buy 'em a drink kick up a stink
Everybodys going crazy oh oh
Oh oh I feel the city rhythm
Oh oh I love those city lights
But when the sun comes up
And the partys over
I dont care Im coming back tonight
To the bright city lights
To the bright city lights
To the bright city lights
To the bright city lights
Oh I love those city lights
song performed by by 10 Cc
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Street Life
Words and Music by Neil Diamond
Hey, let me show you the street life.
Hey, let me show you the finks, the punks, the judge, the junkie.
Stay close to me for a while, for a while, for a while.
Say boy, you got to get street wise.
Hey, little boy, you're a babe in arms, stay out of harm's way
right here with me for a while, for a while, for a while.
Street life, hell in the city.
You got to really watch out for that street life.
Say, it ain't pretty, you got to know your way around
or somehow you might get hurt, get hurt, get hurt.
Say, let me show you the night life.
Say, let me show you the queens, the dudes,
the class, the crudes, the folks that inhabit the night.
Let me set it right.
I'm gonna give you my warning,
I'm gonna tell you the street's alive the sound of jive,
you've just arrived.
Try it for size for a while, for a while.
Street life, hell in the city.
You got to really watch out for that street life.
Say, it ain't pretty, you got to know your way around
or somehow you might get hurt, get hurt, get hurt
song performed by by Neil Diamond
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Stirred By The Wind!
that five and dime perfume,
somewhere between...
a flower garden after the rain,
and the front seat of an old car
on a moonlit night!
making love in the dirt,
between rows of green beans,
hot July sun,
bodies glistening with sweat.
slow dancing in a laundromat,
carrying buckets of water for a bath.
crawling out your bedroom window,
just before dawn!
long greying hair glistening
in a sun shadowed room,
the silence, and the twinkle,
the ashes stirred by the wind!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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We Walk In The Moonlight
We walk in the moonlight
to buy cake meal and cinnamon
past rows and rows of houses of which the lights wink
with the veldt stripped open into the distance
and you tell my about your childhood days,
about a house on a farm now demolished,
about an inheritance that was not yours
and the old yard may be up for sale.
Stars shine like torches against the sky,
your eyes gleam secretively
with the beauty of a innocent child,
our feelings are suddenly intense and intimate.
poem by Gert Strydom
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