Lament
Sleep and death, the dusky eagles
Around this head swoop all night long;
Eternity’s icy wave
Would swallow the golden image
Of man; against horrible reefs
His purple body is shattered.
And the dark voice laments
Over the sea.
Sister of stormy sadness,
Look a timid dinghy goes down
Under stars,
The silent face of the night.
poem by Georg Trakl
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Related quotes
Klage
Dreamless sleep - the dusky Eagles
nightlong rush about my head,
man's golden image drowned
in timeless icy tides. On jagged reefs
his purpling body. Dark
echoes sound above the seas.
Stormy sadness' sister, see
our lonely skiff sunk down
by starry skies:
the silent face of night.
Translated by Jurek Kirakowski
Anonymous submission.
poem by Georg Trakl
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Mourning
The dark eagles, sleep and death,
Rustle all night around my head:
The golden statue of man
Is swallowed by the icy comber
Of eternity. On the frightening reef
The purple remains go to pieces,
And the dark voice mourns
Over the sea.
Sister in my wild despair
Look, a precarious skiff is sinking
Under the stars,
The face of night whose voice is fading.
poem by Georg Trakl
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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
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In Thou dark stormy Night
All alone in the night
All alone with my own fright
A lightning strikes, runs across the dead black sky
I am alone
but I wonder, why?
In Thou dark stormy night
In Thou dark stormy night
I call your name with all my might
All alone hanging in the night
My arms are sore, my soul is light
I hear the thunder, in the cloudy black sky
I am scared
but I don't know, why?
In Thou dark stormy night
in Thou dark stormy night
I call your name with all my might
Inside Your house in the night
Calling Your name with all my might
Father! Father! Why have you forsaken me?
'You must die so my people can be free.'
In Thou dark stormy night
In Thou dark stormy night
Jesus drew his final breath
Saving us all from our own eternal death
poem by Summer Song
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The Watcher on the Tower
I
The Voice of a Man
WHAT of the Night, O Watcher?
The Voice of a Woman
Yea, what of it?
The Watcher
A star has risen; and a wind blows strong.
Voice of the Man
The Night is dark.
The Watcher
But God is there above it.
Voice of the Woman
The Night is dark; the Night is dark and long.
II
Voice of the Man
What of the Night, O Watcher?
Voice of the Woman
Night of sorrow!
The Watcher
Out of the East there comes a sound, like song.
Voice of the Man
The Night is dark.
The Watcher
Have courage! There’s To-morrow!
Voice of the Woman
The Night is dark; the Night is dark and long.
III
Voice of the Man
What of the Night, O Watcher?
Voice of the Woman
Is it other?
The Watcher
I see a gleam; a thorn of light; a thong.
Voice of the Man
The Night is dark.
The Watcher
The Morning comes, my Brother.
Voice of the Woman
The Night is dark; the Night is dark and long.
IV
Voice of the Man
What now, what now, O Watcher?
The Watcher
Red as slaughter
The Darkness dies. The Light comes swift and strong.
Voice of the Man
The Night was long.—What sayest thou, my Daughter?
Voice of the Woman
The Night was dark; the Night was dark and long.
poem by Madison Julius Cawein
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I Met Death
I was waiting, watching one day
When Death came along, looking
As if there was something he wanted to say
His hair was as black as the sky at night
And in the wind it blew like smoke
He had come a long way in his worn black cloak
So I invited him in and I did say
If you’d like to you can stay
But Death said:
“I’m only passing through
For the clock’s hands they say
They are ticking the seconds of my life away”
And I answered,
Thinking I’d misunderstood
As Death’s dark black eye gleamed under his dark black hood
“If your Death, how can you die? ”
You see, Death didn’t seem the kind to lie.
And Death wasn’t phased at all,
“No longer Death I may become,
Or so says He if I don’t complete
The most horrible, horrible, feat.
“The most horrible feat? ”
I had to say
Could it be so horrible,
That Death couldn’t say?
“Death, ” said Death, “is the horrible feat.”
And then he faded away, like smoke into the blue, blue sky
But I think, before he left, I might have seen him cry.
I had never in my life, seen Death again
Until the night I stood outside in the rain
When he said, “I’m sorry miss, but this is good bye.”
And I found out what it’s like to die.
So we went, and parted, to each our own way,
But one more time I want to heard Death say, “I’m sorry miss, -“
Marking the end of the day
poem by Jinny Tikanus
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Itylus
Swallow, my sister, O sister swallow,
How can thine heart be full of the spring?
A thousand summers are over and dead.
What hast thou found in the spring to follow?
What hast thou found in thine heart to sing?
What wilt thou do when the summer is shed?
O swallow, sister, O fair swift swallow,
Why wilt thou fly after spring to the south,
The soft south whither thine heart is set?
Shall not the grief of the old time follow?
Shall not the song thereof cleave to thy mouth?
Hast thou forgotten ere I forget?
Sister, my sister, O fleet sweet swallow,
Thy way is long to the sun and the south;
But I, fulfilled of my heart's desire,
Shedding my song upon height, upon hollow,
From tawny body and sweet small mouth
Feed the heart of the night with fire.
I the nightingale all spring through,
O swallow, sister, O changing swallow,
All spring through till the spring be done,
Clothed with the light of the night on the dew,
Sing, while the hours and the wild birds follow,
Take flight and follow and find the sun.
Sister, my sister, O soft light swallow,
Though all things feast in the spring's guest-chamber,
How hast thou heart to be glad thereof yet?
For where thou fliest I shall not follow,
Till life forget and death remember,
Till thou remember and I forget.
Swallow, my sister, O singing swallow,
I know not how thou hast heart to sing.
Hast thou the heart? is it all past over?
Thy lord the summer is good to follow,
And fair the feet of thy lover the spring:
But what wilt thou say to the spring thy lover?
O swallow, sister, O fleeting swallow,
My heart in me is a molten ember
And over my head the waves have met.
But thou wouldst tarry or I would follow
Could I forget or thou remember,
Couldst thou remember and I forget.
O sweet stray sister, O shifting swallow,
The heart's division divideth us.
Thy heart is light as a leaf of a tree;
But mine goes forth among sea-gulfs hollow
To the place of the slaying of Itylus,
The feast of Daulis, the Thracian sea.
O swallow, sister, O rapid swallow,
I pray thee sing not a little space.
Are not the roofs and the lintels wet?
The woven web that was plain to follow,
The small slain body, the flower-like face,
Can I remember if thou forget?
O sister, sister, thy first-begotten!
The hands that cling and the feet that follow,
The voice of the child's blood crying yet
Who hath remembered me? who hath forgotten?
Thou hast forgotten, O summer swallow,
But the world shall end when I forget.
poem by Algernon Charles Swinburne
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Trapped Dingo
So here, twisted in steel, and spoiled with red
your sunlight hide, smelling of death and fear,
they crushed out your throat the terrible song
you sang in the dark ranges. With what crying
you mourned him! - the drinker of blood, the swift death-bringer
who ran with you so many a night; and the night was long.
I heard you, desperate poet, Did you hear
my silent voice take up the cry? - replying:
Achilles is overcome, and Hector dead,
and clay stops many a warrior's mouth, wild singer.
Voice from the hills and the river drunken with rain,
for your lament the long night was too brief.
Hurling your woes at the moon, that old cleaned bone,
till the white shorn mobs of stars on the hill of the sky
huddled and trembled, you tolled him, the rebel one.
Insane Andromache, pacing your towers alone,
death ends the verse you chanted; here you lie.
The lover, the maker of elegies is slain,
and veiled with blood her body's stealthy sun.
poem by Judith Wright
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Love Struck
Blue dusky waters that caught us that night
Swirling around and around like a merry go ride
You know I still get that sentimental feeling
Cool neon sky asking all kinds of questions
As the moon nods his head and the stars wink an eye
You know I still get that sentimental feeling
Im spinning softly, Im lovestruck
It takes my breath away
Im so emotionally loved-up
Im dreaming night and day
It may not be for an eternity
I swear its real today
Smooth summer breeze sends a smile to my skin
I watch my heart wonder out as the tide rushes in
Still ever-burning
That sentimental feeling
Im spinning softly, Im lovestruck
It takes my breath away
Im so emotionally loved-up
Im dreaming night and day
It may not be for an eternity
I guess thats just loves way
Remember so well the memory so clear
Sweet words you whispered in my ear
The ocean set still the moment we touched
The feeling makes my body rush
Im spinning softly, Im lovestruck
It takes my breath away
Im so emotionally loved-up
Im dreaming night and day
Im spinning softly, Im lovestruck
It takes my breath away
Im so emotionally loved-up
Im dreaming night and day
It may not be for an eternity
This crazy spell has gotten hold of me
Its getting in my way
Blue dusky waters that caught us that night...
song performed by by Will Young
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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My Father’s Son
Once
when I was still a baby boy
obsessed, thrilled with dark night sky
father said, shut your eyes tightly
then sailed I into dark night sky
dreaming of my arms
dipping in deep, dark-blue velvety
palpating golden sheen of the golden full moon
snatching twinkling stars.
But
i fell like lead
just before hard ground
to my father’s arms- veinated, calloused
his chirped nails safely grabbed
then
i opened my eyes
stretching my empty arms, pink nails
for a earnest glimpse of
a dip of deep, dark-blue velvety
golden sheen of the golden full moon
snatched twinkling stars.
and I felt sad.
Then-
father buried his head on my nape
his grizzly beard tickling my face
making little ‘blurp’ ‘blurp’ sounds
my shrill laughter
accosting his deep throaty laughter
echoing my disappointment into dark night sky
before sailing me into dark night sky
back to his rough-gentle arms
again
again
and again
to dip in deep, dark-blue velvety
palpate golden sheen of the golden full moon
snatching twinkling stars.
“Drink all Ma’s omena* soup
to be taller, reach the dark night sky”
father said, following my gaze
into the dark night sky
static radio bleating reggae
golden full moon bathing us in golden sheen
just me and my father
sleeping in his rough-gentle arms
dreaming of my arms
dipping in deep, dark-blue velvety
palpating golden sheen of the golden full moon
snatching twinkling stars
poem by Manuel Odeny
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Jeannies Afraid Of The Dark
Her two little feet would come running into
Our bedroom almost every night
Her soft little face would be wet from her tears
And her little heart pounding with fright
Shed hold out her arms, then shed climb in beside us
In her small voice, wed hear her remark
Mommie and daddy, can I sleep here with you
cause jeannies afraid of the dark
One day in the summer, we took some flowers
To place on some old family graves
Jeannie said, mommy, aint it dark in the ground
Oh, daddy, Id be so afraid
Then she looked up at her daddy and me
And said somethin that broke both our hearts
She said, when I die, please dont bury me
cause jeannies afraid of the dark
Jeannie was always afraid of the dark
And we never could understand why
cause we looked after jeannie with the very best of care
Because jeannie was our only child
Perhaps it was death that she was so afraid of
cause it took her one dark stormy night
I think we always knew that wed never see jeannie grown
cause it seemed she was destined to die
But on jeannies grave, we placed an eternal flame
That glows and never loses its spark
And on the darkest night, theres always a light
cause jeannies afraid of the dark
Our jeannies afraid of the dark
song performed by by Dolly Parton
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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My Secret Hiding Place
Laying in bed looking up at the purple stars,
The stars that glow so bright on my ceiling.
I cry from the pain that has always haunted me,
The haunting of the ghost from my own soul.
I have nothing to fear it says,
But for me I fear everything.
Death, heartbreak, love, people, creatures,
The monsters that take control of my thoughts and secrets and turn it into the most painful visions you could ever image.
The man with the yellow and black eyes look down on me,
Laughing in my face saying I'll never make it.
Who are you? Who am I?
What made these horrible things come alive?
If only the creatures were as nice as the purple stars,
Then maybe the future could be as bright as the ceiling in my secret hiding place.
-Courtney Pacheco
poem by Courtney Pacheco
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I Was The Child of The Night
I was the child of the night
Dark is my father
The moon is my mother
Star of stars was my sister
I was the child of the night
My father is a symbol of fear and helplessness
My mom is the charm
My sister is the beauty of the night
I was the child of night who afraid of the dark night
Mom, please tell to father i would not like the darkness
But my mother said, need not be afraid, my daughter, my light will always protect you from the dark night.
I always give you a glimmer of light in the darkness.
And see your sister, she was very beautiful among the dark of night.
My daughter, the darkness is tranquility.
Many people would like stay in it although it will make them are scared and helpless because
They are find peace in the darkness.
Power of the Night Star
The sun has set
The sky dusky brown
To remember you all night
I have that much right
To think about you all night
I have that much right
To worry about you
To care about you
All throughout the night
That is my right.
The sun sets down
And out goes the light
The world wears a gown
And sleeps all the night
For I also sleep, in my every heart beat
There is a dream for all that i keep
My night is prolonged
But dawn will come
Our faith love adorned
And spiritual distance not torn
At last my sun shall shine and rise
Oh all, lay down your heads
Close your tired eyes
Listen to loves lullaby
Aside your worries
Every moment happy
Sweetly sleep tonight.
In the night the moon shines light
And stars brighten up the sky
Your presence a star for me, Your smile
In this dark night we live out our life
Your guidance, You show us the right
The path on which with you we ride.
poem by Arwa Bharmal
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To the Stars
What beholds
In my sight
My lover in the night
That she may sleep
In inner peace
Atop a bed of fleece
And how cruel of me
To confess
Of her long purple dress
We gazed upon the night sky
All of who we may try
And as we met each other's eyes
With love, to the stars we shall rise
And what is
My temptation
To ignore my condemnation
And how
Can I stay sane
Within a field of shame
We gazed upon the night sky
All of who we may try
And as we met each other's eyes
With love, to the stars we shall rise
As you gaze
Fixed upon the stars
All of who you are
Is revealed
Unto me
And I couldn't see
So I confess
Nontheless
Like a small bird in nest
In her long purple dress
We gazed upon the night sky
All of who we may try
And as we met each other's eyes
With love, to the stars we shall rise
And if I
May so hear
An unpleasant
To awake
To the news
Of one gone I would not lose
To know the one
In the dress
Is nothing now but dead
Then how can I live
With this utter feeling of dread
And as I gaze upon the night sky
All of who I may try
And as I close my tired eyes
With love, to you I shall rise
poem by Pete Rivera
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Silent Night (feat. Cormac Breatnach & Martin Dunlea)
Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright.
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child.
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia,
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born.
Silent night, holy night!
Silent night, holy night!
Son of God love's pure light.
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth.
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth.
Silent night, holy night!
Silent night, holy night!
song performed by by Vanessa Williams
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Night-Night (Children)
Night-night moon
Night-night stars
Night-night noisy
trucks and cars.
Night-night sand box
Night-night toys
Night-night other
girls and boys.
Night-night mom
Night-night dad
Night-night Boogie Man
who's not bad.
It's time to go to sleep now,
most all my night nights said.
Night-night blankie
Night-night bed.
Awake From A Dream
In the silent of night
the only sound that I hear
is your voice in my head
as if you were here.
In the darkness of night
the only image I see
is the image of you,
you in my dreams.
And in the chill of the night
I only wish I could feel
the warmth of your flesh
from lips down to heel.
In the first morning rays
the only sight coming in
is the radiant glow
of your porcelain skin.
But awake from a dream?
The only reason you're here
is a dream within dreams -
is a dream that I fear.
Like a dream come untrue
you're fading away.
If it were only real
I could ask you to stay.
poem by Jason Cline
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O Night O Trembling Night
O night O trembling night O night of sighs
O night when my body was a rod O night
When my mouth was a vague animal cry
Pasturing on her flesh O night
When the close darkness was a nest
Made of her hair and filled with my eyes
(O stars impenetrable above
The fragile tent poled with our thighs
Among the petals falling fields of time
O night revolving all our dark away)
O day O gradual day O sheeted light
Covering her body as with dews
Until I brushed her sealing sleep away
To read once more in the uncurtained day
Her naked love, my great good news.
poem by Stephen Spender
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Stay Up Late
Mommy had. a little baby.
There he is. fast asleep.
Hes just. a little plaything.
Why not. wake him up?
Cute. cute. little baby.
Little feet-feet. little toes.
Now hes comin to me.
Crawl across. the kitchen floor.
Baby, baby, please let me hold him
I wanna make him stay up all night
Sister, sister, hes just a plaything
We wanna make him stay up all night
Yeah we do
See him drink. from a bottle.
See him eat. from a plate.
Cute. cute. as a button.
Dont you wanna make him. stay up late.
And were having fun. with no money.
Little smile. on his face.
Dont cha love. the little baby.
Dont you want to make him. stay up late.
Chorus
Here we go (all night long)
Sister, sister (all night long)
In the playpen...woo...(all night long)
Little baby goes, ha! (all night long)
I know you want to leave me...
Why dont. we pretend.
There you go. little man.
Cute. cute. why not?
Late at night. wake him up.
Chorus
Here we go (all night long)
Sister, sister...woo...
(with the television on)
Little baby goes...woo! (all night long)
Hey, hey, baby! (all night long)
And he looks so cute (all night long)
In his little red suit (all night long)
song performed by by Talking Heads
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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