Marlowe Between the Lions
Imagine reading between the lions?
I mean the two standing stony vigil outside
the Art Institute of Chicago on Michigan Avenue.
A novel by Raymond Chandler and paintings by
Edward Hopper are celebrated within -
laconic detective and barren cityscapes
set the theme of big city angst and anomie
I checked through The Big Sleep -
*He sat behind a desk, a middle-aged plump
man with clear blue eyes
He puffed evenly and stared at me level-eyed,
a funny little hard guy
His neat well-kept face looked as if it had been shaved
within the hour
A small man in a big man's world
He looked ready for a fight*
Look closely at Hopper's oils-
*Night Shadows* *Nighthawks*
*Night Windows* *Empty Room*
Then I lit a cigarette and downed a good slug
of booze. The 38 Special nested snugly in its
holster. That night I felt like a big tough guy
ready for a fight within the hour.
Sure, I got big baby blues
and a swinging dick
like Marlowe!
poem by Michael Pruchnicki
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Related quotes
Chicago Art Institute
They got these two big stone lions
fronting Michigan Avenue
in downtown Chicago
Inside are oil paintings
by Edward Hopper -
mostly city scenes
you know the kind I mean?
empty streets
lonely rooms
deserted buildings
There I was in one of those offices-
feet up on a battered desk
cigarette smoke curling up-
I'd already downed a slug
of good booze that burned its way down
lighting a blaze in my gut
the 38 Smith & Wesson snugged
in a shoulder holster.
Like Philip Marlowe the private eye
I too got big baby blues that kill the broads-
I'm always ready for a fight!
poem by Michael Pruchnicki
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Butte was once a grand city. To me, that city is like one big stage for Edward Hopper. You could put your camera anywhere, and you felt you were looking at his paintings.
quote by Wim Wenders
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Rock All Night
Words and music by rick nielsen, robin zander, bun e. carlos & m. radice
Rock!
(rock all night) what you want
(rock all night) what you need
(rock all night) comin, comin to get you, baby
(rock all night)
Oh make no mistake
Dont take a chance
Dont back down
Down, down to the ground
Lets see some action
Make a scene in between
Go all the way
Better get ready (better get ready)
Get ready
(rock all night) what
(rock all night) what you need
(rock all night) comin, comin to get you, baby
(rock all night)
What you want, what you need
Ill tell you what to do
On the rack and in the sack
Do it all for you
Stumble down, I get up
Up for genocide
Better get ready (better get ready)
Get ready
(rock all night) get ready
(rock all night) what you need
(rock all night) comin, comin to get you, baby
(rock all night)
Oo, yeah
Now its time to settle the score
I wont come knockin
Ill just kick down your door
I dont know what youre waitin for
This is war, yeah
(rock all night)
Rock!
(rock all night)
(rock all night) get ready
(rock all night) better get ready
(rock all night) get ready, get ready
(rock all night) get ready for me
song performed by by Cheap Trick
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Friday Night
Price/price
Well i was driving in my car
With fourteen women after me
Down fifth avenue
A friday night it just to be
She was standing on the corner
Thumbing a ride
I said,: hop in baby
Scoot closer by my side
Honey let's go riding you look so exciting
Where have you been hiding?
Chorus
Friday night, feeling right
Friday night, out of sight
Friday night, friday night
There's no telling what you'll find
Cruising on a friday night
She didn't say a word
She just kept those big blue eyes on me
I wondered what she could be thinkin'
As she put her little hand on my knee
I took another sip of malted brew
And then i looked in her eyes
And as i sank into her bbaby blues
I thought my oh my
There's no use in fighting you look so exciting
Where have you been hiding girl?
Chorus
Cruising on a friday night
Cruising on a friday night
Cruising on a friday night
Cruising on a friday night
song performed by by Roy Orbison
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
It's O.K. (It's Alright)
(it's alright)
I've been looking for about an hour, for a place to drink
Trouble with this town, everyone's asleep
Me and my girlfriend, had another fight
Now she's gone and left me, in the middle of the night
It's OK, it's alright, baby's staying one more night
It's OK, it's alright, baby's staying one more night
If I've been looking for about an hour, for a place to drink
If I had a number, I'd give her a ring
I've got to, got to tell her, how sorry I am
If I get to see her, I know she'll understand
It's OK, it's alright, baby's staying one more night
And just you, and I, maybe we can make it right
If you're sure your answer's no,
Take you where you want to go
It's OK, it's alright, baby's staying one more night
I've been trying for an hour, to find the right words
I know what she's thinking, I know how it hurts
It's OK, it's alright, baby's staying one more night
And just you, and I, maybe we can make it right
If you're sure your answer's no,
I'll take you where you want to go
It's OK, it's alright, baby's staying one more night
It's OK, it's alright, baby's staying one more night
song performed by by Fine Young Cannibals
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
I Dreamt Of My Father Last Night
I dreamt of my father last night
with an indifferent boy to his height
out from a hazy meadow into my sight
on his face was this grave grin
as he paused a little for me to join
while the boy looked away in vague pain
I might have been curious who he was
but father took out his cigarette case
that exuded its old taciturn wince
humbly I took the cigarette
though we both had long since quit
and leaned forward for father to light it
somehow my rusty puff snuffed out father’s light
the only inexplicable one for the night
while my apologetically lit cigarette was alright
I handed it over for father to light his cigarette
which he puffed hard but could not manage it
even if the two were closely joint tête-à-tête
knowing it was a dream I did not want daylight
in that haziness my cigarette was only thing alight
I waited and waited for father to get his light —
poem by Dr Ronnie Bai
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
When The Blue Hour Comes
Orbison/ crowell
The good times are all gone
The night keeps coming on so strong
You cant hold on, no matter what you do
Will there be someone who cares for you
When the blue hour comes?
When the blue hour comes?
And when your restless heart
Tears your world apart
And everywhere you turn
Its falling down on you
Will there be a light that shines for you?
When the blue hour comes for you
If theres anything that you would have me do
Just call on me and Ill be coming through
I will always be there for you
When the blue hour comes
When the blue hour comes
Good times dont last forever
Sometimes its now or never
Darling, reach out for me
You know where Ill be
I will always be there for you
When the blue hour comes
When the blue hour comes
When the blue hour comes for you
If theres anything that you would have me do
Just call on me and Ill be coming through
I will always be there for you
When the blue hour comes
When the blue hour comes
I will always be there
When the blue hour comes
When the blue hour comes
When the blue hour comes....(repeat to fade)
song performed by by Roy Orbison
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Murder in white
She wore white
She smiled at me
That night
With a sparkle in her eye
Like a reflecting light
I couldn’t stop myself…
That night
One dance, one chance to make things right
That night
One look of her in white
That night
As she turned
She whispers in my ear…
Please don’t fear please don’t deny our love tonight
I could not forgive her, for what she had done…
I couldn’t forgive her that night
The cold hard feeling of a concealed weapon in my pocket
I felt the urge to fight
That night
As she lead the way
Up the stairs in flight
That night
I could not forgive her
I could not be led into this evil
I never wanted to fight
That night… but she looked so good wearing white
I made a big mistake that night!
poem by Magenta Jones
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Endless Sleep
The night was black rain fallin down
I looked my baby shes no where aroun
Chased her footsteps down to the shore
Afraid shes gone for ever more
Well I looked at the sea, seemed to say
I took your baby from you away
I heard a voice cry in the deep
Come join me baby in my endless sleep
Why did we quarrel why did we fight
Why did I leave her alone last night
Thats why her foot steps ran down to the sea
Thats wy my baby has gone from me
Well I looked at the sea seemed to say
I took your baby from you away
Well I heard a voice cry in the deep
Come join me baby in my endless sleep
Endless sleep
Out in the water heart full of fear
There in the breaker I saw her near
Reached for my darlin held her to me
Dragged her away from the angry sea
Well I looked at the sea seemed to say
I took your baby from you away
I heard a voice cryin in the deep
I took your baby from the endless sleep
I grabbed my baby from the endless sleep
song performed by by Billy Idol
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Maria Renard (Child)
Armed with her band of animal friends
And a songbook which will help show off her singing voice
Maria Renard knows that the night is young
She also knows that the night is evil
Yet she feels she's ready to face the evil
And to fight it as well
Through many landmarks and landscapes
She knows when to fight
She knows when to escape
Braving against the forces of evil under the moonlight
She may be young
But she's determined
She's ready to fight for justice
She's ready to vanquish the evil
poem by Justin Gildow
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Stratford-on-guy
I was flying into chicago at night
Watching the lake turn the sky into blue-green smoke
The sun was setting to the left of the plane
And the cabin was filled with an unearthly glow
In 27-d I was behind the wing watching landscape roll out
Like credits on a screen
The earth looked like it was lit from within
Like a poorly assembled electrical ball as we moved
Out of the farmlands into the grid
The plan of the city was all that you saw
And all of these people sitting totally still
As the ground raced beneath them thirty thousand feet down
It took an hour, maybe a day
But once I really listened, the noise
Just went away
And I was pretending that I was in a galaxie 500 video
The stewardess came back and checked on my drink in the last strings of sunlight, a bridgette bardot
Theres a head on my headphones
Along with those eyes that you get
When your circumstance is movie size
It took an hour, maybe a day
But once I really listened, the noise
Just went away
It took an hour, maybe a day
But once I really listened, the noise
Just went away
song performed by by Liz Phair
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
One More Kiss (Night Of The Soft Parade)
(PART ONE)
At sunset you hear the soft parade is coming
And the cars and the beast behind, they all start humming
And ooh you got a cool machine, so let's get it runnin'
We'll break the silence of the night
And you know they're gonna hear us comin'
We always see them whisper, we know they're gonna talk
They fantasize the mysteries 'bout the night and the dark
So baby one more kiss, baby one more kiss,
We never have to say goodbye
Oh one more kiss, baby one more kiss,
It brings a little luck to the night
Artists got their easels, they're ready on the mark
Gonna try and take the pictures
Of the dust and the gold in the sparks
And ooh you got a cool machine, baby let's get it runnin'
You never looked so good before
And you know your time it's finally comin'
'Cause our home is the wind, you know we're gods of the mornin'
Champions of the night, when the engines are rumblin'
Our home is the wind, you know we're gods of the mornin'
Champions of the night, when the engines are rumblin'
So just one more kiss, baby one more kiss,
We never have to say goodbye
One more kiss, baby one more kiss,
I never wanna see you cry
One more kiss, baby one more kiss,
It brings a little luck to the night
One more kiss, baby one more kiss,
We never have to say goodbye
(PART TWO)
Ready, ready to roll, ready, ready to roll, ready, ready to roll, ready
Under my foot gonna hit it down,
Take this stance before the crowd
Sleepin' city urban fall,
Su
song performed by by Meat Loaf
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
The Broken Prmoise
He promised her a romantic night,
So she got ready and left around midnight,
The town centre was wrapped in a blanket of fog,
She stood outside the leisure centre and she felt odd,
As other couples past her by,
Dressed all in black; boots; jacket and hat,
Her hands were cold as ice,
Her eyes sparkled like stars,
She heard the clock chime and looked at the time,
She sighed then looked left and right,
To see if her lover was in sight,
But he was nowhere to be seen,
So she lit up a cigarette; the smoke blended in with the fog,
An hour had past,
She decided this is was the last,
Time he broken a promise,
As tears were falling from her eyes,
Like tiny snow crystals,
She disappeared into the mist.
Within Your Arms
living in the world I’ve created in my dreams for you and me
I didnt understand that anything could happen
when you take a chance
I never believed it before I was in your arms
I never opened my heart to what I couldn’t see
I didn’t want to see all the possibilities
there could be
there should be between you and me
I know something is different in me
I’ve never felt this way
this could be the start of something deeper
it felt so right to be in your arms
when I looked into your eyes that one night
I saw that same need
that same want
that same drive
that I was feeling inside
who ever thought I would have met you here tonight
you’re the last thing I expected
the world looks so much brighter within your arms tonight
I can see the day though the night
you have reached deep inside me somewhere and started something new
cause I know I’ve never felt this way without it being you
you’ve unlooked some kind of new and more passionate feeling
I never knew it could happen until it happened to me
I never knew it could have happened like that
I never knew it could be that strong
so fast
I thought it would take more time
I didn’t know but now it’s easy to see
if only you just looked into my eyes you would have saw
you could have seen that I would be loyal to you
you could have had your way with me right then and there
I wanted you to take me away
I wanted you to have what we wanted
I was ready for you to
I dare not to say it out loud
dare not to even think it for you might see it in my all telling eyes
only feeling my body telling me that I was ready
ready for you
and ready to tell you I’m willing to stay in your arms for ever
poem by Mrs. Cynosure
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Night In The City
Light up light up
Light up your lazy blue eyes
Moons up nights up
Taking the town by surprise
Night time night time
Day left an hour ago
City light time
Must you get ready so slow
There are places to come from and places to go
Night in the city looks pretty to me
Night in the city looks fine
Music comes spilling out into the street
Colors go flashing in time
Take off take off
Take off your stay-at-home shoes
Break off shake off
Chase off those stay-at-home blues
Stairway stairway
Down to the crowds in the street
They go their way
Looking for faces to greet
But we run on laughing with no one to meet
Night in the city looks pretty to me
Night in the city looks fine
Music comes spilling out into the street
Colors go waltzing in time
song performed by by Joni Mitchell
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
In the Shadows of Darkness
In the dark bleak nights.
And the roaming shadows.
When the voices speak to me.
I no it can all bring me to my knees.
It could all be the end of me.
If it wanted to be.
I shall fight another night and day.
I see the shadows
A figure of a man.
Are these real
Or is it just in my head.
In the crisp cold of the night.
In a room 101
Im stuck in my room 101.
Shadows loom at night
Like a witch flying on a broom.
Waking me with a sudden fright.
Not in the mornig light.
In my darkest hour
They will huant me.
They can make me suffer.
They want the end of me.
tuff shit they aint getting it.
In the dakness of shadows.
My fears are relived.
I can beat this.
I must beat it.
poem by Amy Louise Kerswell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Box Car Harry
The railroad dick looked straight at him, eyes unwavering, beady-eyed, menacing, and Harry counted his change to see if there was enough for a bribe; searched his thoughts for an escape route, but he was not as young as he used to be and the dick was young, legs like a deer.
He tussled Barney’s hair and said:
“Go there in that thar car and wait for me, got to dump the dick. Wait for my whistle.”
Barney looked up him hesitantly and Harry stammered hoarsely
“Go! ”
Barney scrambled on all fours the way Harry had taught him and quickly disappeared under cover of the dark Chicago night.
Always, the dick against the Bos, the rich against the poor was Harry’s thought, been that way since her was born, the wanders, the lose, the lose people on the road trying to find an odd job and a meal, against the railroad fat cats trying to exterminate the railroad people, who what was just trying to get by.
Harry held his breath and told himself to concentrate and finally turned back to the dick and showed himself, full on so as the dick could get a good look at him. The dick wide-eyed and incredulous stared hard at Harry surprised by the brazenness of the tramp and stood stock still for a moment, prey in the eyes of the predator.
Harry swayed a little left and then a little right like a running back taunting the linebacker, which way boy, am I going to bolt, which way is the question. Harry feinted a dash to the right and the dick crouched right ready for the chase, Harry smiled and then feinted to the left, testing the dick’s reflexes. The dick danced to the left enjoying the thrilling moment before the chase.
Harry guessed Barney had had time to secure himself in the car and then dashed straight toward the dick, who was thoroughly surprised and steeled himself for what he thought would be a crash between the two men. But Harry at the last minute slanted right allowing the dick to remain close behind but not enough to lay hand on him.
He headed for track 13 for the Great Northern line car.
The dick was breathing behind him; Harry could hear his labored breaths, close enough but not close enough to grab, what was what Harry wanted.
He hit the Northern line yard and saw number 13 looming. The dick was laughing behind him yelping with the sheer joy of it all, feeling he had Harry cornered because the Northern lot was a closed in one, a big wall in the back, a closed station and of course cars, most closed.
But Harry was aiming toward 13 and left up into the car and waited for the dick to catch up and see him. Harry looked down at the man’s heaving chest smiling his best Harry smile.
To be Continued
poem by Lonnie Hicks
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Rip It Up/ready Teddy
Well, it's saturday night and i just got paid,
Fool about my money, don't try to save.
My heart says, "go! go! have a time!"
'cause it's saturday night and, baby, i feel fine.
Gonna rip it up,
Gonna rock it up,
Gonna shake it up,
Gonna ball it up,
Gonna rock it up,
And ball the night.
I got me a date and i won't be late,
Picked her up in my eighty-eight.
Shag on down to the union hall,
When the joint starts jumpin', i'll have a ball.
Gonna rip it up,
Gonna rock it up,
Gonna shake it up,
Gonna ball it up,
Gonna rock it up,
And ball the night.
Whoa!
Well, ready, set, go man, go,
I got a girl that i love so.
And i'm ready,
Ready, ready, ted,
I'm ready,
Ready, ready, ted,
I'm ready,
Ready, ready, ted,
I'm ready, ready, ted to rock and roll.
Goin' to the corner, pick up my sweetie pie,
She's a rock and roll baby, she's the apple of my eye.
I'm ready,
Ready, ready, ted,
I'm ready,
Ready, ready, ted,
I'm ready,
Ready, ready, ted,
I'm ready, ready, ted to rock and roll.
song performed by by Yoko Ono
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Rip It Up/ready Teddy
Well, it's saturday night and i just got paid,
Fool about my money, don't try to save.
My heart says, "go! go! have a time!"
'cause it's saturday night and, baby, i feel fine.
Gonna rip it up,
Gonna rock it up,
Gonna shake it up,
Gonna ball it up,
Gonna rock it up,
And ball the night.
I got me a date and i won't be late,
Picked her up in my eighty-eight.
Shag on down to the union hall,
When the joint starts jumpin', i'll have a ball.
Gonna rip it up,
Gonna rock it up,
Gonna shake it up,
Gonna ball it up,
Gonna rock it up,
And ball the night.
Whoa!
Well, ready, set, go man, go,
I got a girl that i love so.
And i'm ready,
Ready, ready, ted,
I'm ready,
Ready, ready, ted,
I'm ready,
Ready, ready, ted,
I'm ready, ready, ted to rock and roll.
Goin' to the corner, pick up my sweetie pie,
She's a rock and roll baby, she's the apple of my eye.
I'm ready,
Ready, ready, ted,
I'm ready,
Ready, ready, ted,
I'm ready,
Ready, ready, ted,
I'm ready, ready, ted to rock and roll.
song performed by by Yoko Ono
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
I'll Remember You
It's funny how time slips away
On those long summer nights,
I had sat down at my balcony,
I had gazed at the stars,
I had cried all night,
I had cried tears` of 'Good -bye': But
I had to keep on going without your love
Living my life the way I choose to
Discovering the things that are left for me to do
Doing the things that I love
Let there be light
Don't give excuses
Don't wait for answers
Don't wait for tomorrow
Don't ask me why
No need to be angry anymore
No need to wait anymore
For this special day, special hour,
No need to fight, just follow him, because
The Lord has come to set you free
The Lord has come to take you home
A place with no more pain and sorrows
Where you will find comfort and peace
Maybe someday, you will meet me again
A time has come to say” Good-bye'
I'll remember you in my dreams
I'll remember you in my sleep
I'll remember you each day and every hour of the day
I'll remember you for all the good things you have done for me
I'll remember you for the special time we spent together.
I'll remember you in my prayers
I'll remember you for the kind of person you were
I'll remember you every night
I'll remember you for your special smiles and laughter
I'll remember you
poem by Aldo Kraas
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!