Two Pictures
WE sat by an open window
And hearkened the sounds outside —
The call of a lonely night-bird,
And the croon of a making tide.
He was an island-trader,
And talked of his sunlit home,
Of the palms and the happy people,
And reef and beach and foam.
All that the trader told me
Was wine to my soul and balm;
And I longed for the moonlit beaches
And the coral and the palm.
He was browned with the sun and weather
(How changed in mood and mien
From the days when the dark-eyed woman
Was throned in his heart a queen!)
He talked of the merry-makers,
Of the flower-crowned native girls;
Their eyes with the lure of midnight,
And their teeth like island pearls.
No word of the dark-eyed woman —
But dance and song and dish,
The white of the branching coral,
The hues of the rainbow fish;
Gossip of sport and battle
For love and faith and truth,
But never a word of the woman
He loved in his careless youth.
The tide on the rocks was crooning
(Sole sound), the bird was still;
And the night lay hot and breathless
On rock and tree and hill.
Two pictures were limned in the darkness —
(And sad, O sad, was the tide!)
A home in a sunlit island,
A grave on a green hillside.
poem by Roderic Quinn
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
Dark Eyed Cajun Woman
Tom johnston
I think back to the time
When I first saw your face
You were walkin across the delta
To your cold and lonely place
You know, I took you for a small girl
Really not quite seventeen
Oh, lord, but I was wrong, oh so wrong
Youre like a woman Ive never seen
Dark eyed cajun woman
Where are you comin from
Your soul is in the back woods
They say you never had a home
But Im gonna know you better
If it takes all night and day
Dark eyed cajun woman
Youll never get away, no, no
Now the evenin is blowin
I hear your voice most everywhere
Your cold, black eyes
They are dancin in the starlight
Warmin the cold night air
Its so beautiful, you know I have to say
Dark eyed cajun woman
Youll never get away
song performed by by Doobie Brothers
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Devils Island
The light that fills my lonely cell,
Is blocked out by the key,
That locks the door to this hell,
The place they wanted me.
Times racing like the wind,
Executions near,
Oh lord, I wait for death,
And, yes, I have no fear.
I recall that night, my every breath,
And, step along the way.
Closed my eyes, walking,
As danger paved the way.
The devil, and the darkness
Let her evil wander free
And, here on devils island,
The final stop for me.
Chorus:
Devils island, devils island.
Oh, there is no escape,
The sea is full of sharks.
The tide takes you away, and
Smashes you on the rocks.
The sun is shining,
But feel not today,
Its warmth, its dying,
And fading away.
Chorus (repeat):
Devils island, [here I stay,] devils island.
Oh, hear the call,
From the grave beyond.
Oh, so pernicious,
Her soul it creates song.
As there is no man, that is
Here upon the earth,
Able to terminate our
Noisome will since birth.
The priest that reads the sermons,
Is walking next to me,
To the stake, my last request,
To have her burn with me.
But, so it did, the heavens opened,
Rain began to fall.
The final judgement came, and
Was spread before you all.
Final judgement.
Old, weak, and feeble,
But the lesson taught to me,
To stay away from evil,
She doesnt care for me.
She haunts me in my sleep,
Though I tore that page away.
And, here on devils island,
Ill always have to stay.
Chorus (repeat):
Devils island, devils island.
[devils island, devils island.]
Here I am.
Chorus (repeat [4 times]):
Devils island, devils island.
song performed by by Megadeth
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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At Her Door
OPEN! Open! Open!
I am here at your door outside;
The sea's blue tide flows speedily,
And ebbs a thin red tide.'
The woman rose from her warm white bed,
Threw back her hair and smiled;
The ears of scorn heard the words of love,
And the wind and the words were wild.
'Wake! Awake! Awake!
And hearken the woe outside;
The moon is hid in cloudiness;
Calleth and calleth the tide.'
The woman stood in the silence still
As a thing men carve from stone.
Her eyes burned largely in the dark,
And the smile, like a stain, stayed on.
'Listen! Listen! Listen!
Hear you the rain to-night?
A warm dark rain is falling too,
And I grow ghostly-white.'
The woman took three steps and bowed;
The smile waned from her lip;
She heard the dripping of the rain
And a soft thick other drip.
'Open! Open! Open!
I die in the dark alone.
My voice goes up in weariness
Against your heart of stone.'
The moon to a cloud-cleft stealing
Gazed down on the yearning tide;
The woman opened the streaming door
And stood in the rain outside.
Silence! Stillness! She whispers,
'Ah, Love, that death should be!'
He sighed, 'Your lips are loveliness!'
And she sobbed, 'Woe is me!'
The woman pressed his dead white face
With her face as deadly white:
The moon drew in behind a cloud,
And the tide moaned through the night.
poem by Roderic Quinn
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Rock Island
Savage night on a misty island. lights wink out in the
Canyon walls.
Two old boys in a stolen racer. black rubber contrails in
The unwashed halls.
And all roads out of here, seem to lead right back to the
Rock island.
Ive gone back to paris, london, and even riding on a
Jumbo to bombay.
The long haul back holds faint attraction, but the people
Here know theyre o.k.
See the girl following the red balloon: walking all alone
On her rock island.
Doesnt everyone have their own rock island? their own little
Patch of sand?
Where the slow waves crawl and your angels fall and you find
You can hardly stand.
And just as youre drowning, well, the tide goes down.
And youre back on your rock island.
Hey there girlie with the torn dress, shaking: who was it
Touched you? who was it ruined your day?
Whose footprint calling card? and what they want, stepping
On your beach anyway?
Ill be your life raft out of here, but youd only drift right
Back to your rock island.
Hey, boy with the personal stereo: nothing 'tween the ears
But that hard rock sound.
Playing to your empty room, empty guitar tune, no use waiting
For that c.b.s. to come around.
'cos all roads out of here, seem to lead right back to your
Rock island.
song performed by by Jethro Tull
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Alone iam alone in alone island
Alone iam alone in alone island
Alone mew on alone palm tree in alone island
Alone shark surrounding alone island
Alone boat far away from alone island
Alone iam dying alone in alone island
Alone iam alone in alone island
poem by Mohammed AlBalushi
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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There Is This Island
there is this island
a very small island where i once escaped
away from the death that the crowd has inflicted
there is this lonely island
where the only house i have is just an old chair
and throughout the nine full moons i simply sit there gazing
looking at the small tree the leaf of which is only one
its veins too tiny for my eyes to love
it gets lonely here most of the time but i owe all my life to this very small island
it saved me once from the death inflicted on me by the crowd
my body becomes a geisha of gratitude
my mouth becomes the kiss of the slave woman to the nth power of Abram
i live in this island and on the last dropp of the day
i become forever
there will be another north star in the heavens
and it shall have my own name
there is this island shaped like a heart and it sheds blood because it is real
i am but a white grain of sand
perhaps, but i have become this grain of gratitude and i have become a star
forever hanging on the heavens.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Island In The Sea
there is this island
a very small island where i once escaped
away from the death that the crowd has inflicted
there is this lonely island
where the only house i have is just an old chair
and throughout the nine full moons i simply sit there gazing
looking at the small tree the leaf of which is only one
its veins too tiny for my eyes to love
it gets lonely here most of the time but i owe all my life to this very small island
it saved me once from the death inflicted on me by the crowd
my body becomes a geisha of gratitude
my mouth becomes the kiss of the slave woman to the nth power of Abram
i live in this island and on the last dropp of the day
i become forever
there will be another north star in the heavens
and it shall have my own name
there is this island shaped like a heart and it sheds real blood because it is real
i am but a white grain of sand
perhaps, but i have become this grain of gratitude and i have become a star
forever hanging on the heavens.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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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
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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I Am A Rock
A winter's day
In a deep and dark December;
I am alone,
Gazing from my window to the streets below
On a freshly fallen silent shroud of snow.
I am a rock,
I am an island.
I've built walls,
A fortress deep and mighty,
That none may penetrate.
I have no need of friendship; friendship causes pain.
It's laughter and it's loving I disdain.
I am a rock,
I am an island.
Don't talk of love,
But I've heard the words before;
It's sleeping in my memory.
I won't disturb the slumber of feelings that have died.
If I never loved I never would have cried.
I am a rock,
I am an island.
I have my books
And my poetry to protect me;
I am shielded in my armor,
Hiding in my room, safe within my womb.
I touch no one and no one touches me.
I am a rock,
I am an island.
And a rock feels no pain;
And an island never cries.
song performed by by Paul Simon
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I Am A Rock
A winter's day, in a deep and dark December, I am alone,
Gazing from my window to the streets below
On (a) freshly fallen silent shroud of snow.
I am a rock, I am an island.
I've built walls, A fortress deep and mighty, That none may penetrate.
I have no need of friendship, friendship causes pain.
It's laughter and it's loving I disdain.
I am a rock, I am an island.
Don't talk of love, but I've heard the words before,
It's sleeping in my memory.
I won't disturb the slumber of feelings that have died.
If I never loved I never would have cried.
I am a rock, I am an island.
I have my books, and my poetry to protect me,
I am shielded in my armor, Hiding in my room, safe within my womb.
I touch no one and no one touches me.
I am a rock, I am an island.
And a rock feels no pain, and an island never cries.
song performed by by Simon & Garfunkel
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Island Girl
Ray oh ah ha
Ray oh ah ha
Radio ah ha
You know
Ray oh ah ha
Radio ah
I'm gonna make her mine
Bom bom bom ba ba bom bom bom bom
I went to trinidad i didn't
Know just what i had 'til i
Found her
She wears a pretty smile
That compliments her shapely
Style and i found her
Island girl she's oh so pretty
Island girl i like her plenty
Island girl i'm gonna make her mine
Island girl she makes me happy
Island girl she kinda sassy
Island girl i'm gonna make her mine
Everybody's got an island fantasy
For me it's like a caribbean odyssey
All the people live and love there by the sea
Near the sparkling wather 'neath the coco-palm tree
Island girl she make me happy
Island girl she kinda sassy
Island girl won't you show me the way
She's fine so fine all mine
She's so good to me
And i know (i know) our love (or love) so free (so free)
That it was meant to be
Island girl she make me happy
Island girl she kinda sassy
Island girl won't you show me the way
She's a real beauty from the caribbean
Long dark hair flowin' in the breeze
She's the kinda beauty makes you come alive and
We can live together for eternity
Every now and then i get this silly grin
When i'm there in her company
She says i'm crazy that i'm also very lazy
I know she loves me
Island girl she make me happy
Island girl she kinda sassy
Island girl won't you show me the way
Island girl won't you show me the way
Island girl won't you show me the way
song performed by by Beach Boys
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I Need A Woman
(bob dylan)
Its been raining in my mouth all day
Dripping down to my clothes
My patience it is wearing thin
Got a fire inside my nose
Searching for the truth the way God designed it
The truth is I might drown before I find it
Well, I need a woman
Yes, I do
Need a woman
Yes, I do
Someone who can see me as I am
Give the kind of love that dont have to be condemned
And I want you to be that woman
Every night
Be that woman
Treat me right
Ive had my eyes on you, baby
For about five long years
You probably dont know me at all
But Ive seen your laughter and Ive seen your tears
Now you dont frighten me
I aint no defendant
And you look like it wouldnt hurt you none
To have a man of understanding
Well, I need a woman
Oh, dont i
Need a woman
Bring it home safe at last
Ive seen you standing on the corner
Seen you sitting down in the park
Been watching you in the sunshine
Walking with you in the dark
And I want you to be that woman
Treat me right
Be that woman
Every night
Well, if you believe in something long enough
You just naturally come to think its true
There aint no wall you cant crossover
Aint no fire you cant walk through
Well, believing is all right
Just dont let the wrong people know what its all about
They might put the evil eye on you
Use their hidden powers to try to turn you out
Well, I need a woman
Just to be my queen
Need a woman
Black, white, yellow, brown, blue or green
Riding out with me at midnight
Like two spanish desperadoes
Gazing down upon the futile world
In her cadillac eldorado
We will penetrate the storm
In search of truth that has not been tested
But she better bring along her checkbook
Just in case we get arrested
And I want you to be that woman
song performed by by Ry Cooder
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Islands
Earth, stream and tree encircled by sea
Waves sweep the sand from my island.
My sunsets fade.
Field and glade wait only for rain
Grain after grain love erodes my
High weathered walls which fend off the tide
Cradle the wind
To my island.
Gaunt granite climbs where gulls wheel and glide
Mournfully glide oer my island.
My dawn brides veil, damp and pale,
Dissolves in the sun.
Loves web is spun - cats prowl, mice run
Wreathe snatch-hand briars where owls know my eyes
Violet skies
Touch my island,
Touch me.
Beneath the wind turned wave
Infinite peace
Islands join hands
neathe heavens sea.
Dark harbour quays like fingers of stone
Hungrily reach from my island.
Clutch sailors words - pearls and gourds
Are strewn on my shore.
Equal in love, bound in circles.
Earth, stream and tree return to the sea
Waves sweep sand from my island,
From me.
song performed by by King Crimson
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Island
Alive in this island of seclusion
As my fearful eyes witness
The maelstrom multitude of the mighty waves
Placing my nation in deep peril
The tides of tyranny the tides of terror smashing into the shores
Tide after tide draws nearer and nearer out to destroy what I live for
Freedom and fraternity, peace and serenity
All in this island I adore
The waves ever-nearer, are out to fill
My island with things I abhor
poem by Mohammod Choudhury
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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SOMNAMBULISM
I
Night is above me,
And Night is above the night.
The sea is beside me soughing, or is still.
The earth as a somnambulist moves on
In a strange sleep ...
A sea-bird cries.
And the cry wakes in me
Dim, dead sea-folk, my sires—
Who more than myself are me.
Who sat on their beach long nights ago and saw
The sea in its silence;
And cursed it or implored;
Or with the Cross defied;
Then on the morrow in their boats went down.
II
Night is above me ...
And Night is above the night.
Rocks are about me, and, beyond, the sand ...
And the low reluctant tide,
That rushes back to ebb a last farewell
To the flotsam borne so long upon its breast.
Rocks ... But the tide is out,
And the slime lies naked, like a thing ashamed
That has no hiding-place.
And the sea-bird hushes—
The bird and all far cries within my blood—
And earth as a somnambulist moves on.
poem by Cale Young Rice from Sea Poems (1921)
Submitted by Dan Costinaş
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Never Been Gone
(carly simon/jacob brackman)
The wind is coming up strong and fast
And the moon is smiling on me
Miles from nowhere so small at last
In between the sky and the sea
Im bound for the island
The tide is with me
I think I can make it before dawn
Its night on the ocean
Im going home
And it feels like Ive never
Ive never been gone
Seagulls cry and the hills are green
And my friends are waiting for me
Freat ambition is all a dream
Let me drown my pride in the sea -
Im bound for the ocean
The tide is with me
I think I can make it by dawn
Its night on the ocean
Im going home
And it feels like Ive never
Ive never been gone
Oh it feels like Ive never
Ive never been gone
song performed by by Carly Simon
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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White Queen
so sad her eyes
smiling dark eyes
so sad her eyes
as it began
on such a breathless night as this
upon my brow the lightest kiss
i walked alone
and all around the air did say
my lady soon will stir this way
in sorrow known
the white queen walks and
the night grows pale
stars of lovingmess in her hair
needing - unheard
pleading - one word
so sad my eyes
she cannot see
how did thee fare, what have thee seen
the mother of the willow green
i call her name
and 'neath her window have i stayed
i loved the footsteps that she made
and when she came
white queen how my heart did ache
and dry my lips no word would make
so still i wait
my goddess hear my darkest fear
i speak too late
it's for evermore that i wait
dear friend goodbye
no tear in my eyes
so sad it ends
as it began
song performed by by Queen
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Need A Woman
Its been raining in the trenches all day long, dripping down to my clothes,
My patience is wearing thin, got a fire inside my nose.
Searching for the truth the way God designed it,
The truth is I might drown before I find it.
Well I need a woman, yes I do
Need a woman, yes I do.
Someone who can see me as I am,
Somebody who just dont give a damn.
And I want you to be that woman every night,
Be that woman.
Ive had my eyes on you baby for about five long years,
You probably dont know me at all, but I have seen your laughter and tears.
Now you dont frighten me, my heart is jumping
And you look like it wouldnt hurt you none to have a man who could give ya something.
Well I need a woman, oh dont i
Need a woman, bring it home safe at last.
Seen you turn the corner, seen your bootheels spark,
Seen you in the daylight, and watched you in the dark.
And I want you to be that woman, all right
Be that woman every night.
Well, if you believe in something long enough you just naturally come to think its true.
There aint no wall you cant cross over, aint no fire you cant walk through.
Well, believing is all right, just dont let the wrong people know what its all about.
They might put the evil eye on you, use their hidden powers to try to turn you out.
Well I need a woman, just to be my queen.
Need a woman, know what I mean?
song performed by by Bob Dylan
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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In An Island Of Light
some people have always loved
the island of light
and they do everything to be
inside
that island of light
to a certain extent of disregarding
civility and forgetting courtesy
and setting aside
the reservation that the island of light
is too small and cannot be
the place for all
some people have to live outside
the island of light
for that is what is meant to be
in the word of
destiny
and there will be time for all
a season for some
luck for the other
fate for four
disaster for more
the island of light soon dissolves itself
for the light of day
the sun of mercy
and it is for free.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Flower and Bird
Amongst the lonely branches of a tree,
Stood a lovely flower fragrant and free,
She was the sight of every passer-by,
'What a beautiful flower! ' people would cry.
The flower in the prime of its youth,
Couldn’t identify life and its real truth,
Proud by its fragrance and beauty it stood,
And thought that beauty was what made it good,
Impressed by its beauty a little bird would sing,
The tale of its love and the whole valley would ring,
Perched on the branch of the great oak tree,
The bird sings its love for the flower to see,
People would stop and look at this tale,
Of the beautiful lady and the gallant male.
And one day the bird let its heart out,
And the beautiful flower refused with pout,
The bird wanting its beloved’s heart,
Asked her, 'What do I do so that we don’t part? '
And the proud flower told the lonely bird,
'There is a flower down the valley, have you heard?
Its brilliant red, is said is more beautiful than me,
So dear bird, make me red, as red as I can be! '
The bird said, 'But your beauty is no match,
So beautiful are you that my heart, you did catch! '
The flower in its pride and anger,
Told the bird 'Oh! Don’t bother',
The sadness in its eyes, the bird couldn’t see,
And said, 'I gift the colour red to thee! '
Saying this he pierced his heart on a thorn,
And spilt the blood on her till he was torn,
And the flower indeed did become red,
With the love of the little bird’s blood,
People would stare at the beautiful flower,
And amongst the branches it would hover,
The people passing soon forgot the song of the bird,
But the silent lament of the flower was never heard,
The flower never forgot the love of its bird,
But the melody of the poor bird was never heard!
poem by Supriya Mothay
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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