The Mysterious Visitor
THERE was a sound of hurrying feet,
A tramp on echoing stairs,
There was a rush along the aisles,--
It was the hour of prayers.
And on, like Ocean's midnight wave,
The current rolled along,
When, suddenly, a stranger form
Was seen amidst the throng.
He was a dark and swarthy man,
That uninvited guest;
A faded coat of bottle-green
Was buttoned round his breast.
There was not one among them all
Could say from whence he came;
Nor beardless boy, nor ancient man,
Could tell that stranger's name.
All silent as the sheeted dead,
In spite of sneer and frown,
Fast by a gray-haired senior's side
He sat him boldly down.
There was a look of horror flashed
From out the tutor's eyes;
When all around him rose to pray,
The stranger did not rise!
A murmur broke along the crowd,
The prayer was at an end;
With ringing heels and measured tread,
A hundred forms descend.
Through sounding aisle, o'er grating stair,
The long procession poured,
Till all were gathered on the seats
Around the Commons board.
That fearful stranger! down he sat,
Unasked, yet undismayed;
And on his lip a rising smile
Of scorn or pleasure played.
He took his hat and hung it up,
With slow but earnest air;
He stripped his coat from off his back,
And placed it on a chair.
Then from his nearest neighbor's side
A knife and plate he drew;
And, reaching out his hand again,
He took his teacup too.
How fled the sugar from the bowl
How sunk the azure cream!
They vanished like the shapes that float
Upon a summer's dream.
A long, long draught,--an outstretched hand,--
And crackers, toast, and tea,
They faded from the stranger's touch,
Like dew upon the sea.
Then clouds were dark on many a brow,
Fear sat upon their souls,
And, in a bitter agony,
They clasped their buttered rolls.
A whisper trembled through the crowd,
Who could the stranger be?
And some were silent, for they thought
A cannibal was he.
What if the creature should arise,--
For he was stout and tall,--
And swallow down a sophomore,
Coat, crow's-foot, cap, and all!
All sullenly the stranger rose;
They sat in mute despair;
He took his hat from off the peg,
His coat from off the chair.
Four freshmen fainted on the seat,
Six swooned upon the floor;
Yet on the fearful being passed,
And shut the chapel door.
There is full many a starving man,
That walks in bottle green,
But never more that hungry one
In Commons hall was seen.
Yet often at the sunset hour,
When tolls the evening bell,
The freshman lingers on the steps,
That frightful tale to tell.
poem by Oliver Wendell Holmes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
Stranger Eyes
A-when you took the fall
And then you floated down
And then you took the jump
And you fell through clouds
Yeah then you watched the world
Beat the crowd
Come on ride me high
(stranger eyes)
A-well a-ride me high
(stranger eyes)
Yeah you took the fall
And then you landed soft
You thought to yourself
Oo well Im not alone
You with your dark red soul
And your chaperone
Come on ride me high
(stranger eyes)
Wont you ride me high
(stranger eyes)
Come on ride me high
(stranger eyes)
Ride me high
(danger [? ] stranger eyes)
Stranger eyes
Oo well I need your touch
That means so much
Oo well I need your touch
Cause it means so much
A-ride me high
Come on ride me high
(stranger eyes)
A-yeah ride me high
(stranger eyes)
Ride me high
(stranger eyes)
Oh, come on and ride me high
(danger [? ] stranger eyes)
Stranger eyes
(stranger [echo] stranger eyes)
(stranger [echo] stranger eyes)
(stranger [echo] stranger eyes)
[fade]
song performed by by Cars
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Grey and Mournful Stranger
Years haunted by that stranger
That dark stranger from my past
Now diminished in his influence
With his picture fading fast.
You ask me who’s that stranger
And why did he have that power
To regulate my daily life
And render sweetness sour?
That stranger was false memories
That stranger was a dream
Of how I seemed to others
Not what I might have been.
That stranger would forbid me
From seeking freedom’s goals
That stranger like a tourniquet
Was slow strangling my soul.
That grey and mournful stranger
Now a stranger clear to me
Was simply an illusion
And was never meant to be.
But now his picture’s fading
My feelings now feel real once more
I shan’t seek out that stranger
Nor invite him to my door.
For I’d mistaken that cold stranger
For a person I once knew
But that person was not ever me
And it’s now time to start anew.
poem by David Keig
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Stranger In Paradise
(john capek/amy sky)
The twilight falls on shadowed walls
The day dissolves into the point of no return
We cross the line with silent signs
The night seduces us of the possibilities
Can it be, that finally
Take me to the fantasies
Im a stranger in paradise
And its a long way to the ground
Im a stranger in paradise
Dont let, dont let me down
The moon escapes, and I awake
I lie and listen to the music of your breathing
I catch my breath, remembering
I have to touch you just to see if Im still dreaming
What remains when night has gone
Cover me in shades of dawn
Im a stranger in paradise
And its a long way to the ground
Im a stranger in paradise
Dont let, dont let me down
Can it be, finally
Take me to the fantasies
Im a stranger in paradise
And its a long way to the ground
Im a stranger in paradise
Dont let, dont let me down
Im a stranger in paradise
Dont let, dont let me down
Stranger, Im a stranger
Stranger, stranger, stranger
song performed by by Diana Ross
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Face
You take a final look around
And then you put your house-key down
Upon the table by the note
You take your handbag and your coat
You don't want too much to carry
To slow you down on the way
You picture his face
In the morning
As he was going to work
Without saying a word
You saw the face
Of a stranger
It wasn't always like this before
His face like a stranger
You didn't know what to say
So you are going away
From the face of a stranger
And not the lover you knew before
Why should you want to call your friends
Why should you want to start again
You tried explaining through the years
But it would always end in tears
And one thing you know for certain
You've said goodbye to that place
But still
You picture his face
In the morning
As he was going to work
Without saying a word
You saw the face
Of a stranger
It wasn't always like this before
His face like a stranger
You didn't know what to say
So you are going away
From the face of a stranger
And not the lover you knew before
Somewhere a telephone
Is ringing in an empty room
Miles away
You are looking at a new town
But you are thinking of the past
The rain is falling down
Why do you keep that photograph
Of his face like a stranger
As he was going to work
Without saying a word
You saw the face
Of a stranger
And not the lover you knew before
His face
In the morning
As he was going to work
Without saying a word
You saw the face
Of a stranger
It wasn't always like this before
His face like a stranger
You didn't know what to say
So you are going away
From the face of a stranger
And not the lover you knew before
His face
In the morning
As he was going to work
Without saying a word
You saw the face
Of a stranger
It wasn't always like this before
song performed by by Anni Frid Lyngstad from Shine
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Stranger In The Crowd
(words & music by winfield scott)
Ive been standing on a corner
Since a quarter after seven
I was down to my last cigarette
And the clock in the window
At a quarter to eleven
I was watching all the people
Passing by me going places
Just the loneliest guy in the town
Looking for a friendly smile
But all I see were faces
And then, just like the taste of milk and honey
I found the stranger Ive been looking for
Like a wave, my cup of love was overflowing
I knew the stranger in the crowd
And I would be stranger no more
The love that comes on the corner
At a quarter to eleven
I thought you were to good to be true
All my life I had believed
That angels only live in heaven
But now, we share the taste of milk and honey
Each day is sweeter than the day before
My cup runned overflowing
Because the stranger in the crowd
And I would be stranger no more
Deep inside, my cup of love was overflowing
I found the stranger Ive been looking for
Like a wave, my cup of love was overflowing
I knew the stranger in the crowd
And I would be stranger no more
song performed by by Elvis Presley
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Stranger On A Quiet Street
When all the thrills have been forgotten
The chill of night can call them home
And all the dreams that you left stranded
Will slowly start to come along
I felt it as she slipped away, slipped away
I didnt have the words to say
When I saw the stranger
A stranger on a quiet street
Stranger on a quiet street
You can go straight as an arrow
You can go straight as you dare
Walkin the old straight and narrow
Dont always get you there
The sun was shining when I saw it all
She was moving to a different beat
When I met a stranger
A stranger on a quiet street
Stranger on a quiet street
It came to me out of the blue, out of the blue
There came the moment that I really knew
When I met a stranger
A stranger on a quiet street
Stranger on a quiet street
Stranger on a quiet street
Stranger on a quiet street
Stranger on a quiet street
Stranger on a quiet street
Stranger on a quiet street, on a quiet street
Stranger on a quiet street
Stranger on a quiet street
Stranger on a quiet street
song performed by by Electric Light Orchestra
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Stranger In My Own House
(a capella: she said: boy, your luck is running out...she make me feel like a stranger...in my own house)
I come stumbling in at a quarter to three
To the sound of my own dog growlin at me
Im scared to move or turn on a light
Youve got me creepin around in the dark
Like a thief in the night
Ive got no excuse, I should have known
Ive got no place to live
I never feel at home
I walk into the kitchen to see whats there
Im tired and Im hungry but the cupboards bare
Ive been working all day and all night too
I cant believe this is all I have to come back to
I guess Ill take a look upstairs, in the danger zone
I wonder what Im doing here
When I never feel at home
Im a stranger in my own house
Ive got the keys to the door
But Im still locked out
Im a stranger in my own house
Ill huff and Ill puff and Ill blow this house down
Cant be a stranger in my own house
I see the do not disturb sign on my bedroom door
What is this sheet and pillow laying on the floor
I wore out my welcome
I hear you loud and clear
Its time to get a few things straight around here
Ive got no excuse, I should have known
Ive got a place to live but I never feel at home
Im just a stranger in my own house
Ive got the keys to the door
But Im still locked out
Stranger in my own house
Ill huff and Ill puff and Ill blow this house down
Cant be a stranger in my own house
Ive got no excuse, I should have known
With a woman like you Im better off alone
Im a stranger in my own house
Ive got the keys to the door
But Im still locked out
Im just a stranger in my own house
Oh, honey Im home
Im just a stranger in my own house
Im just a stranger in my own house
You got a lion on your hands girl, not a mouse!
Im just a stranger in my own house
Im just a stranger in my own house
Well, somebodys got to go...
Stranger
Stranger
song performed by by Foreigner
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Stranger In The Wind...
Stranger in the wind...
Beckons at my door.
Stanger in the wind...
Wanting even more.
Stranger in the wind...
Hard to really ignore.
Stranger in the wind..
Making my heart ache, as sore.
Stranger in the wind...
Rapping at my door.
Stanger in the wind...
Who knows i am so poor.
Stranger in the wind...
My time here-has me bore...
Many aches and pains of a thirsting heart...
Can only be quenched by ye, your remembered part.
Stranger in the wind...
My heart, you'll win.
Stranger in the wind...
Yon soul so deep.
Stranger in the wind...
My heart you'll keep.
Stranger in the wind...
my soul you'll reap.
Stranger in the wind...
You make me weep.
poem by Michael Gale
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Feel Like A Stranger
Inside youre burnin I can see clear through
Your eyes tell more than you mean them to
Lit up and flashin like the reds and blues
Out there on the neon avenue
Well i, feel like a stranger (feel like a stranger)
Well the musics thunderin, restless and hot
You keep firin me glances across the room
And I cant stop wonderin just what you got
Get the feeling Im going to find out real soon
But I feel like a stranger (feel like a stranger)
So lets get on with the show, lets go
Yes, and the wheels its smokin round midnight
You show me a look that says lets go
Yes, and it feels about like running a red light
Now there aint no point in looking behind us, no!
Still I feel like a stranger (feel like a stranger)
You know its gonna get stranger, lets get on with the show
If this were love now how would I know? how would I know?
Feel like a stranger
Gonna be a long, long, crazy, crazy night
Silky, silky, crazy, crazy night
song performed by by Grateful Dead
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Time Has Come
Long for the sailor, beneath the skies
Long for the white dove, no matter where she flies
Long for the stranger you know so well.
Pray for the soldier, whos wounded bad
Pray for the dreamer, hes still so sad
Pray for the stranger you know so well.
Cause Im coming home.
Now the time has come
For me to come back home.
Long for the eagle, on wings so strong
Long for the hunter, he wont be long
Long for the stranger you know so well.
song performed by by Europe
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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No Stranger To Love
Cold is the night
Lonely till dawn
Cry for the light
For the love that wont come
You said that youd never
Leave me alone
I gave you my heart
You cried for my soul
An angel wont come
This devil wont go
Something is wrong
I just cant get away
Living on the street, Im no stranger to love
Why cant you see Im no stranger to love
But Im a stranger in your arms
Yes, Im a stranger in your arms
Maybe its right
But I just cant understand
The hurt that I feel
For my love second hand
I know I should leave
But I just cant walk away
Living on the street, Im no stranger to love
Why cant you see Im no stranger to love
Living on the street, Im no stranger to love
Im a stranger in your arms
Living on the street, Im no stranger to love
Why cant you see Im no stranger to love
song performed by by Black Sabbath
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Spit On A Stranger
However you feel
Whatever it takes
Whenever its real
Whatever awaits me
Whatever you need
However so light
Whenever its real
Whenever its right
[chorus]
Ive been thinking long and hard about the things you said to me
Like a bitter stranger
Now I see the long and short the middle and whats in between
I could spit on a stranger (pull me out)
Youre a bitter stranger (pull me out)
Whatever you feel
Whatever it takes
Whenever its real
Whatever awaits me
Whatever you need
However so slight
[chorus]
Honey, Im a prize and youre a catch and were a perfect match
Like two bitter strangers
Now I see the long and short of it and I can make it last
I could spit on a stranger (pull me out)
Youre a bitter stranger (pull me out)i could spit on a stranger (pull me out)
Youre a bitter stranger (pull me out)
I could spit on a stranger (pull me out)
Youre a bitter stranger (pull me out)
I see the sunshine in your eyes
Ill try the things you never try
Ill be the one that leaves you high, high, high
song performed by by Nickel Creek
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Seventh Stranger
Those words are all remainders
Echos growing in the heart of twilight
They lay back laughing at naivetys star.
Awaken all those whispers,
The dusty shadow of a passing favour
I wouldnt say that you were ruthless or right
I couldnt see from so far.
Was I chasing after rainbows?
One thing for sure - you never answered when I called.
And I wiped away the water from my face
To look through the eyes of a stranger...
For rumours in the wake of such a lonely crowd
Trading in my shelter for danger
Im changing my name just as the sun goes down -
In the eyes of the stranger!
Cant tell the real from reflections
When all these faces look the same to me
In every city such a desolate dream.
Some days are strange to number
Some say the seventh sounds a little bit stranger
A year of sundays seems to have drifted right by -
I could have sworn in one evening.
And Im not seized in desperation,
No steel reproaches on the table from before.
But I still can feel those splinters of ice
I look through the eyes of a stranger...
(chorus)
-
I must be chasing after rainbows
One thing for sure you never answer when I call.
And I wipe away the water from my face
To look through the eyes of a stranger...
For rumours in the wake of such a lonely crowd
Trading in my shelter for danger
Im changing my name just as the sun goes down
Walking away like a stranger
(chorus)
In the eyes of the stranger..
In the eyes of the stranger..
In the eyes of the stranger..
song performed by by Duran Duran
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Blue Stranger
Hello blue stranger sittin' there all alone
With your glass of sorrow you seem so far from home
Maybe you will let me buy a round or two
I'm a blue stranger too
Hello blue stranger I haven't seen your around
But I know every reason for leavin' town
We might know each other before the night is through
I'm a blue stranger too
And strangers fall in love everyday
All lovers were strangers once
Just like us a little unsure of their ways
Well hello blue stranger will you take a chance
I might be mistaken but I see meaning in your glance
Maybe this could be the start of something new
I'm a blue stranger too
And strangers fall in love all the time
All lovers were strangers once
Just like us a little unsure of sharin' eyes
Hello blue stranger sittin' there all alone
With you glass of sorrow you seem so far away from home
Maybe you will let me buy you a round or two
I'm a blue stranger too
Hello blue stranger, Hello blue stranger
Hello blue stranger
song performed by by Keith Urban
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Hot In The City
Stranger, stranger, stranger, stranger
Its hot here at night, lonely, black and quiet
On a hot summer night
Dont be afraid of the world we made
On a hot summer night
cause when a long-legged lovely walks by
Yeah you can see the look in her eye
Then you know that its
{refrain}
Hot in the city, hot in the city tonight, tonight
Hot in the city, hot in the city tonight, tonight
Stranger, stranger
For all the dreams and schemes,
People are as they seem
On a hot summer night
Dont be no fun, dont forget youre young
On a hot summer night
A sometime someone youre not
Dont wait to see what you got
cause you know that youre
{refrain}
Well walk until my feet drop
Im a train when Im hateful
Yeah, lay right down now
And ride until your head breaks
Im a-walkin til my brain pops
I will move with the beat now
Im a chain round an a-bomb
Im a ribbon in the heat now
New york!
{refrain, repeat to fade}
song performed by by Billy Idol
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Two Doors
A long time ago in a land far away,
a stranger appeared from nowhere.
He had journeyed through a portal
that govern time and space.
It pulled him through to a place
of which he knew not where.
On his arrival, he was arrested
and sent before the King
who was a wise old man,
and who loved to play games.
He looked at the stranger,
asked where he had come from.
The stranger could not say.
To say he did not know
was a crime throughout the land.
It was a plea of guilty.
The King looked at the stranger and said.
The punishment for your answer
under our law is certain death.
However, you are a stranger
so I am giving you the choice of two doors.
One door leads to happiness,
the other leads to instant death.
The choice will be all yours.
You will be taken to the arena,
given a special key
that will fit both of the doors.
At the stroke of twelve,
the stranger was marched to the arena
and left standing there.
The two doors stood side by side,
all he had to do was choose.
He moved towards them
and stood for a moment of two.
Finally, he advanced towards the left,
but at the last moment,
changed his mind and opened the right.
As the door opened,
the stranger gasped at what was inside.
Did the stranger open the right door?
I will let you the reader to decide.
30 October 2007
poem by David Harris
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Stranger In The House
This never was one of the great romances
But I thought youd always have those young girls eyes
But now they look in tired and bitter glances
At the ghost of a man who walks round in my disguise
I get the feeling that I dont belong here
But theres no welcome in the window anyway
And I look down for a number on my keychain
cause it feels more like a hotel everyday
Theres a stranger in the house; nobodys seen his face
But everybody says hes taken my place
Theres a stranger in the house no one will ever see
But everybody says he looks like me
And now you say youve got no expectations
But I know you also miss those carefree days
And for all the angry words that passed between us
You still dont understand me when I say
Theres a stranger in the house; nobodys seen his face
But everybody says hes taken my place
Theres a stranger in the house no one will ever see
But everybody says he looks like me
song performed by by Elvis Costello
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Stranger In This Town
(sambora, bryan)
Hey mister can you tell me
What this worlds about
It might just help me out
I used to be a dreamer
But my dreams have burned
You know how luck can turn
Sometimes its hard to find a friendly face
Feel like a stranger to the human race
Its such a lonely, lonely place
I walk alone in the darkness of the city
Got no place to call home
I might be dyin
But you cant hear a sound
cause midnight rain is comin down
Im just a stranger, a stranger in this town
Everybody loves a winner
Till the winners lose
And then its front page news
Nobody loves a loser
When youre down and out
You know there aint no doubt
Im just a victim of circumstance
Please mister give me a helping hand
Brother wont you understand
I walk alone in the darkness of the city
Got no place to call home
I might be dyin
But you cant hear a sound
cause midnight rain is comin down
Im just a stranger, a stranger in this town
Im just a victim of circumstance
Please mister give me a helping hand
Brother wont you understand
I walk alone in the darkness of the city
Got no place to call home
I might be dyin
But you cant hear a sound
cause midnight rain is comin down
Im just a stranger, a stranger in this town
I mean no danger, Im a stranger, Im a stranger
Im a stranger in this town...
I mean no danger, Im a stranger...
Im just a stranger in this town
song performed by by Bon Jovi
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Seance
The stranger walks into the dark room where the two men sit at the table and talk of travel. The stranger joins in the conversation, saying: 'I have also traveled' and the two men look up and seem surprised at his sudden appearance. In the corners of the ceiling there is a sound as of very swift wings, a muttering of motors, and a chattering of thin voices. The stranger disappears. His voice is heard first in this corner, then in that, until it fades away somewhere near the open window. Where the stranger stood the two men find a railway ticket to an unknown destination.
poem by Edouard Roditi
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Love Aint No Stranger
(coverdale/galley)
Who knows where the cold wind blows,
I ask my friends, but, nobody knows
Who am I to believe in love,
Oh, love aint no stranger
I looked around an what did I see
Broken hearted people staring at me,
All searching cos they still believe,
Oh, love aint no stranger
I was alone an I needed love
So much I sacrificed all I was dreaming of,
I heard no warning, but, a heart can tell
Id feel the emptiness of love I know so well
Love aint no stranger,
I aint no stranger
Love aint no stranger,
I aint no stranger to love, no, no, no
Cant hold the passion of a soul in need,
I look for mercy when my heart begins to bleed
I know good loving an Im a friend of pain,
But, when I read between the lines its all the same
Love aint no stranger,
I aint no stranger
Love aint no stranger,
I aint no stranger to love
So who knows where the cold wind blows,
I ask my friends, but, nobody knows
Who am I to believe in love,
Lord, have mercy,
Love aint no stranger,
I aint no stranger
I was alone an I needed love
So much I sacrificed all I was dreaming of,
Cant hold the passion of a soul in need,
I look for mercy when my heart begins to bleed
Love aint no stranger,
I aint no stranger
Love aint no stranger,
I aint no stranger to love
Love aint no stranger,
Love aint no stranger,
I aint no stranger...
song performed by by Whitesnake
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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