Chi È?
When for a buonamano
Cometh, at break of day,
Knock at the terzo piano,
A little voice answers, Chi è?
``I, the facchino, awaiting
The bounty of cara lei.''
She droppeth a paul through the grating,
And silently steals away.
When, with a long low mumble
Of lips that appear to pray,
There cometh a knock-so humble-
The little voice answers, Chi è?
``I, the poor monk.'' Just a little
She opens, but nought doth say;
Gives him baiocchi or victual,
And silently steals away.
But when, as the shadows longer
Stretch half athwart the way,
There cometh a knock, much stronger,
The little voice answers, Chi è?
And when I answer, Io!
No bolts nor bars delay;
But, with the wild whisper, Ah Dio!
We kiss, and we steal away.
poem by Alfred Austin
Added by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
Pom-pom Play Girl
Rah rah pom pom play girl
Pom pom play girl
(oooooo)
You see her in a short skirt down on the grass
Shes wonderin if the teams gonna run kick or pass
(chi chi bah oooooo)
Since she doesnt really know why shes wavin her hands
Shes a-thinking bout the boy sittin up in the stands
Rah rah pom pom play girl
Pom pom play girl
(chi chi bah)
Just a little social clique with the other song queens
With a freshman or a sophomore she wouldnt be seen
(chi chi bah oooooo)
Shes a doll and she knows it and she thinks that her face
Will get her any body any thing and any place
Rah rah pom pom play girl
Pom pom play girl
Oooooo
Chi chi bah
(oooooo)
Since shes the head cheerleader she dates the quarterback
And her best friends going out with the full back
(chi chi bah oooooo)
She might even run for an office this spring
And that ought to really make her telephone ring
Rah rah pom pom play girl
Pom pom play girl
(chi chi bah pom pom play girl)
Wooooo
(chi chi bah pom pom play girl)
Wooo
(chi chi bah pom pom play girl)
Shake it
(chi chi bah pom pom play girl)
Wave those pom poms all around
(chi chi bah pom pom play girl)
(chi chi bah pom pom play girl)
(chi chi bah pom pom play girl)
Wow
(chi chi bah pom pom play girl)
Wow
(chi chi bah pom pom play girl)
song performed by Beach Boys
Added by Lucian Velea
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Per Una Delusione In Pi
Funky il gallo, come sono bello stamattina
non c'e' piu' la mia morosa
e sono piu' leggero di una piuma
oh e intanto Zio Rufus sta
coi suoi pensieri in testa
portando in giro la vita a fare la pipi'
X colpa di chi chi chi chi chichichirichi
stanotte voglio stare acceso
e dire sempre di si
X colpa di chi chi chi chi chichichirichi
I'm a hootchiee cootchiee man,
hootchiee cootchiee man yeah
(yeah it's rolling!)
Funky gallo, come sono in ballo questa sera
ho voglia di sudare e sono piu' goloso di una mela
oh avanti o popolo con la chitarra rossa
che in tanto il tempo passa e lei non torna piu'
X colpa di chi chi chi chi chichichirichi
stanotte voglio stare acceso
e dire sempre di si
X colpa di chi chi chi chi chichichirichi
I'm a hootchiee cootchiee man,
hootchiee cootchiee man yeah
tieni il tempo
non ho tempo
I WANNA DANCE ALL NIGHT
il sentimento
e' troppo denso
I WANNA DANCE ALL NIGHT
Funky gallo, coi pensieri sconci nelle dita
forse sono in fallo, ma mi piace molto Madre Rita
oh avanti o popolo con la lambretta rossa
che intanto il tempo passa e lei non torna piu'
X colpa di chi chi chi chi chichichirichi
stanotte voglio stare acceso
e dire sempre di si
X colpa di chi chi chi chi chichichirichi
I'm a hootchiee cootchiee man,
hootchiee cootchiee man yeah
tieni il tempo
non ho tempo
I WANNA DANCE ALL NIGHT
il sentimento
e' troppo denso
I WANNA DANCE ALL NIGHT
tieni il tempo
(che) non ho tempo
I WANNA DANCE ALL NIGHT
sono in fiamme
le mie donne
[...] Read more
song performed by Zucchero
Added by Lucian Velea
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Per Colpa Di Chi?
Funky il gallo, come sono bello stamattina
non c'e' piu' la mia morosa
e sono piu' leggero di una piuma
oh e intanto Zio Rufus sta
coi suoi pensieri in testa
portando in giro la vita a fare la pipi'
X colpa di chi chi chi chi chichichirichi
stanotte voglio stare acceso
e dire sempre di si
X colpa di chi chi chi chi chichichirichi
I'm a hootchiee cootchiee man,
hootchiee cootchiee man yeah
(yeah it's rolling!)
Funky gallo, come sono in ballo questa sera
ho voglia di sudare e sono piu' goloso di una mela
oh avanti o popolo con la chitarra rossa
che in tanto il tempo passa e lei non torna piu'
X colpa di chi chi chi chi chichichirichi
stanotte voglio stare acceso
e dire sempre di si
X colpa di chi chi chi chi chichichirichi
I'm a hootchiee cootchiee man,
hootchiee cootchiee man yeah
tieni il tempo
non ho tempo
I WANNA DANCE ALL NIGHT
il sentimento
e' troppo denso
I WANNA DANCE ALL NIGHT
Funky gallo, coi pensieri sconci nelle dita
forse sono in fallo, ma mi piace molto Madre Rita
oh avanti o popolo con la lambretta rossa
che intanto il tempo passa e lei non torna piu'
X colpa di chi chi chi chi chichichirichi
stanotte voglio stare acceso
e dire sempre di si
X colpa di chi chi chi chi chichichirichi
I'm a hootchiee cootchiee man,
hootchiee cootchiee man yeah
tieni il tempo
non ho tempo
I WANNA DANCE ALL NIGHT
il sentimento
e' troppo denso
I WANNA DANCE ALL NIGHT
tieni il tempo
(che) non ho tempo
I WANNA DANCE ALL NIGHT
sono in fiamme
le mie donne
[...] Read more
song performed by Zucchero
Added by Lucian Velea
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Call It Evil (demo)
I've been around watching little late shows
Drink a lot of beer
Like playing cards with my friends
Call it evil
Call it pain
It goes knock, knock, knock-knock-knock-knock, on my door
It goes knock, knock, knock-knock-knock-knock, on my door
That rock and rock, yeah, call it evil
That rock and rock, yeah, call it evil
Knock, knock, knock, knock, knock, knock, on my door, Yeah!
Knock, knock, knock, knock, knock, knock, on my door
Going to get as my babe.
It goes knock, knock, knock, knock, knock, knock, on my door
Playing sopwith in the back of my head
What you trying to be crazy?
People look at me, they look at me, but you're dead
Call it evil
Call it pain
It goes knock, knock, knock-knock-knock-knock, on my door
It goes knock, knock, knock-knock-knock-knock, come on
Knock-knock-knock-knock, one more
Knock-knock-knock-knock
That rock and rock, yeah, call it evil
That rock and rock, yeah, call it evil
Knock, knock, knock, knock, knock, knock, on my door
Knock, knock, knock, knock, knock, knock, on my door
Knock, knock, knock, knock, knock, knock, on my door
Knock, knock, knock, knock, knock, knock, on my door
song performed by Alice Cooper
Added by Lucian Velea
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What He Say
Ive seen many countries
Argue about human lives
But one thing that stays the same is
The clubs are always full at night
Pick out any far-out place
Like kenya or swaziland
Doesnt matter what the place
Theyll still be dancing to the band
(mumble mumble jumble)
(garble warble farble)
(mumble mumble jumble)
(garble warble farble)
(mumble mumble jumble) what he say?
(garble warble farble)
(mumble mumble jumble) what he say?
(garble warble farble) lets dance!
Say youve found a homeland? (move to it, move to it)
Say youve found a clubland? (get to it, get to it)
Now youve got a song? (groove to it, groove to it)
Got to find a partner (just get to it, get to it)
(mumble mumble jumble)
(garble warble farble)
(mumble mumble jumble)
(garble warble farble)
(mumble mumble jumble) what he say?
(garble warble farble)
(mumble mumble jumble) what he say?
(garble warble farble) lets dance!
Lets dance!
Ive seen many a race of people
Argue many things before
But there is one language that
Gets you understood for sure
Not a language of the mouth
Its only for the feet
Grab a russian by the hands
And he will feel the need
Thats right!
(mumble mumble jumble)
(garble warble farble)
(mumble mumble jumble)
(garble warble farble)
(mumble mumble jumble) what he say?
(garble warble farble)
(mumble mumble jumble) what he say?
(garble warble farble) lets dance!
Lets dance!
song performed by Ministry
Added by Lucian Velea
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Tu Che Ne Sai
(pallavicini / amurri / f pisano)
Tu che ne sai
Delle volte che ho pianto per te
Un amore non pu? venir quando un amor ? cos? non dirmi pi? di rifarmi una vita sei tu
Questa sera mi fai morir
Mi fai morir di dolor
What do you know
About the times Ive cried over you?
There cant be love when its a love like this
Stop telling me to start a new life - its you
This evening you are killing me
Making me die of pain
A chi dar? le mie lacrime, yeah
A chi dar? le mie lacrime
Chi le vorr? le mie lacrime chi le vorr?
Who will I give my tears to? , yeah
Who will I give my tears to?
Who will want my tears, who will want them?
Non hai capito
Mi stai lasciando
E proprio quando, quando
Ho bisogno di te di te
You dont understand
Youre leaving me
Just when, just when
I need you, you
Ma tu che ne sai
Delle volte che ho pianto per te
Ora va non ti voglio pi? tu che ne sai del mio amor
But what do you know
About the times Ive cried over you?
Now go, I dont want you anymore
What do you know about my love?
A chi dar? le mie lacrime, yeah
A chi dar? le mie lacrime
Chi le vorr? le mie lacrime chi le vorr?
Ma chi le vorr? ma chi le vorr?
Who will I give my tears to? , yeah
Who will I give my tears to?
Who will want my tears, who will want them?
Who will want them?
Who will want them?
A chi dar? le mie lacrime, yeah
A chi dar? le mie lacrime, yeah
Chi le vorr? le mie lacrime chi le vorr?
Ma chi le vorr? yeah
Ma chi le vorr? ma chi le vorr? ma chi le vorr? yeah
Ma chi le vorr?
Ma chi le vorr? yeah
Ma chi le vorr? yeah
[...] Read more
song performed by Dusty Springfield
Added by Lucian Velea
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For All Pianos All Around The World
pi
piano
piano use
piano key
piano roll
piano wire
piano note
pianoforte
piano store
piano pedal
piano bench
piano effect
piano sound
piano string
piano mover
piano maker
piano music
piano action
piano player
piano lesson
piano design
piano course
piano soloist
piano tuning
piano recital
piano replica
piano sonata
piano rhythm
piano sample
piano teacher
piano program
piano concerto
piano repertoire
piano brand name
anno piano twenty twelve
poem by Nicolas Grenier
Added by Poetry Lover
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C'e Chi Dice No
C' qualcosa che non va
In questo cielo
C' qualcuno che non sa
Pi che ore sono
C' chi dice qua, c' chi dice la
Io non mi muovo
C' chi dice la, c' chi dice qua
Io non ci sono
Tanta gente convinta che ci sia nell'aldil
Qualche cosa chiss
Quanta gente comunque ci sar
Che si accontenter
C' qualcuno che non sa
Pi cosa un uomo
C' qualcuno che non ha
Rispetto per nessuno
C' chi dice no, c' chi dice no
Io non ci sono
C' chi dice no, c' chi dice no
Io non mi muovo
Tanta gente convinta che ci sia nell''aldil
Chiss cosa e chiss
Quanta gente comunque ci sar
Che si accontenter
C' chi dice no, c' chi dice no
Io non mi muovo
C' chi dice no, c' chi dice no
Io non ci sono
C' chi dice no, c' chi dice no
Io non ci credo
C' chi dice no, c' chi dice no
Io sono un uomo
C' chi dice no, c' chi dice no
song performed by Vasco Rossi
Added by Lucian Velea
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Wild Man
Ive never tried these reason my crest(? ),
I got tired of those administrations caught
With their trousers down,
Yea poor fools just to exercise their intellect,
Power matters rift,
Looking for another kicker, yeah yeah.
You call me a fool when I laugh at you,
But how do you know you wont put me in
The drink,
And sit behind an empty glass.
How long must we show the world,
Blah blah blah mumble mumble
Chorus
Im a wild man, dont you know it,
Im a wild man, dont you know it,
Blah blah blah mumble mumble
Im a wild man, dont you know it,
They cant capture me.
Im a wild man, dont you know it?
Im a wild man, dont you know it.
I think Im going soul,
And I think Im gonna retire,
Mumble mumble mumble so terrified to see you.
At least inside mumble mumble mumble
An endless sea of misery,
With every single word of scripture, yeah yeah.
How do you know what to do,
When theres so sickness in the world?
How can you sleep when theres mumble mumble mumble
Blah blah blah mumble mumble
Blah blah blah mumble mumble
Divisionary policies.
Chorus
Im a wild man, dont you know it,
Im a wild man, dont you know it?
[you didnt actually think I could understand what hes saying, did you? -- dte]
song performed by Kinks
Added by Lucian Velea
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How the Boy Stole Christmas
Based on 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas', by Dr. Seuss.
Done for a school project=)
Once, upon a falling snowflake,
In a land far, far away,
There lived all the Whats,
Preparing for Christmas day.
There was one What that stuck out,
The richest What of them all,
He had light brown hair, and big brown eyes
His given name was Paul.
Paul was a greedy boy,
His best friend was Ebenezer Scrooge
And anytime Paul lied,
His little nose turned huge!
Paul was the only What in Whattown,
That really hated this time of the year,
He ruined all the children’s fun,
His pranks were in full gear.
Paul thought Christmas was just trouble,
He only thought of himself,
He thought that Santa Claus was stupid,
And hurt the feelings of every single elf.
He hated everybody that liked Christmas,
There was only one exception of his,
A beautiful What named Rachel,
Whom he never wanted to diss.
Now every story has a problem,
And this one’s is pretty big,
Paul crushed on the Christmas-lover Rachel,
But Rachel thought Paul was a pig.
You see, Rachel was an EXTREME Christmas fanatic,
Loving every aspect of it,
She volunteered everywhere that she could,
And her money? Donated every bit.
She helped out at school and Church,
Sang carols at the old folks’ home,
Baked cookies with younger children,
Made ornaments out of foam.
Rachel hated anybody that hated Christmas,
She was like a packaged deal,
[...] Read more
poem by Selina Marie
Added by Poetry Lover
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Knockin On Heavens Door
Mama take this badge off of me
I cant wear it anymore
Its getting too dark, too dark to see
And I feel like im
Feel Im knockin on heavens door
Knock, knock, knockin on heavens door
I feel like, I feel like im
Knock, knock, knockin on heavens door
I said i, I feel im
Knock, knock, knockin on heavens door
Mama mama mama
Knock, knock, knockin on heavens door
Oh
Take these guns and put em to the ground
I cant, I cant, I cant
I just cant shoot them anymore
Theres a long black cloud
Theres a long black cloud
You know its a, its a comin down
I feel i, I feel i, I feel im
I feel Im knockin on heavens door
Knock, knock, knockin on heavens door
Now I said mama mama
Knock, knock, knockin on heavens door
Oh now
Knock, knock, knockin on heavens door
Oh
Knock, knock, knockin on heavens door
Wipe this blood from my face
I cant see through the walls
Six white horses coming to carry me away
I feel Im knockin on heavens door
Im
Knock, knock, knockin on heavens door
Gonna take me, gonna take me, gonna take me now
Knock, knock, knockin on heavens door
Wipe this, wipe this, wipe this, wipe this
Knock, knock, knockin on heavens door
Oh mama im
Knock, knock, knockin on heavens door
Mama take these chains off of me
Cause I dont, I dont want them anymore
Theyre getting too damn heavy
And Im crawling across the floor
I feel like, I feel like Im knockin on heavens door
Oh mama
Knock, knock, knockin on heavens door
Ah mama mama mama
Knock, knock, knockin on heavens door
Gonna take me, gonna take me, gonna take me
[...] Read more
song performed by Indigo Girls
Added by Lucian Velea
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Knockin On Heavens Door
Mama take this badge off of me
I cant use it any more
Its gettin dark, too dark to see
I feel like Im knockin on heavens door
Knock, knock, knockin on heavens door
Knock, knock, knockin on heavens door
Knock, knock, knockin on heavens door
Knock, knock, knockin on heavens door
Mama, wipe the blood from my face
Im sick and tired of the war
[...]
I feel like Im knockin on heaves door
Knock, knock, knockin on heavens door
Knock, knock, knockin on heavens door
Knock, knock, knockin on heavens door
Knock, knock, knockin on heavens door
Knock, knock, knockin on heavens door
Knock, knock, knockin on heavens door
Knock, knock, knockin on heavens door
Knock, knock, knockin on heavens door
Knock, knock, knockin on heavens door
Knock, knock, knockin on heavens door
Knock, knock, knockin on heavens door
Knock, knock, knockin on heavens door
Knock, knock, knockin on heavens door
Knock, knock, knockin on heavens door
Knock, knock, knockin on heavens door
Knock, knock, knockin on heavens door
song performed by George Harrison
Added by Lucian Velea
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The Golden Legend: IV. The Road To Hirschau
PRINCE HENRY _and_ ELSIE, _with their attendants, on
horseback._
_Elsie._ Onward and onward the highway runs
to the distant city, impatiently bearing
Tidings of human joy and disaster, of love and of
hate, of doing and daring!
_Prince Henry._ This life of ours is a wild aeolian
harp of many a joyous strain,
But under them all there runs a loud perpetual wail,
as of souls in pain.
_Elsie._ Faith alone can interpret life, and the heart
that aches and bleeds with the stigma
Of pain, alone bears the likeness of Christ, and can
comprehend its dark enigma.
_Prince Henry._ Man is selfish, and seeketh pleasure
with little care of what may betide;
Else why am I travelling here beside thee, a demon
that rides by an angel's side?
_Elsie._ All the hedges are white with dust, and
the great dog under the creaking wain
Hangs his head in the lazy heat, while onward the
horses toil and strain
_Prince Henry._ Now they stop at the wayside inn,
and the wagoner laughs with the landlord's daughter,
While out of the dripping trough the horses distend
their leathern sides with water.
_Elsie._ All through life there are wayside inns,
where man may refresh his soul with love;
Even the lowest may quench his thirst at rivulets fed
by springs from above.
_Prince Henry._ Yonder, where rises the cross of
stone, our journey along the highway ends,
And over the fields, by a bridle path, down into the
broad green valley descends.
_Elsie._ I am not sorry to leave behind the beaten
road with its dust and heat;
The air will be sweeter far, and the turf will be softer
under our horses' feet.
(_They turn down a green lane._)
[...] Read more
poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Added by Poetry Lover
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The Shadow
Paul Jannes was working very late,
For this watch must be done by eight
To-morrow or the Cardinal
Would certainly be vexed. Of all
His customers the old prelate
Was the most important, for his state
Descended to his watches and rings,
And he gave his mistresses many things
To make them forget his age and smile
When he paid visits, and they could while
The time away with a diamond locket
Exceedingly well. So they picked his pocket,
And he paid in jewels for his slobbering kisses.
This watch was made to buy him blisses
From an Austrian countess on her way
Home, and she meant to start next day.
Paul worked by the pointed, tulip-flame
Of a tallow candle, and became
So absorbed, that his old clock made him wince
Striking the hour a moment since.
Its echo, only half apprehended,
Lingered about the room. He ended
Screwing the little rubies in,
Setting the wheels to lock and spin,
Curling the infinitesimal springs,
Fixing the filigree hands. Chippings
Of precious stones lay strewn about.
The table before him was a rout
Of splashes and sparks of coloured light.
There was yellow gold in sheets, and quite
A heap of emeralds, and steel.
Here was a gem, there was a wheel.
And glasses lay like limpid lakes
Shining and still, and there were flakes
Of silver, and shavings of pearl,
And little wires all awhirl
With the light of the candle. He took the watch
And wound its hands about to match
The time, then glanced up to take the hour
From the hanging clock.
Good, Merciful Power!
How came that shadow on the wall,
No woman was in the room! His tall
Chiffonier stood gaunt behind
His chair. His old cloak, rabbit-lined,
Hung from a peg. The door was closed.
Just for a moment he must have dozed.
He looked again, and saw it plain.
[...] Read more
poem by Amy Lowell
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The Undying One- Canto III
'THERE is a sound the autumn wind doth make
Howling and moaning, listlessly and low:
Methinks that to a heart that ought to break
All the earth's voices seem to murmur so.
The visions that crost
Our path in light--
The things that we lost
In the dim dark night--
The faces for which we vainly yearn--
The voices whose tones will not return--
That low sad wailing breeze doth bring
Borne on its swift and rushing wing.
Have ye sat alone when that wind was loud,
And the moon shone dim from the wintry cloud?
When the fire was quench'd on your lonely hearth,
And the voices were still which spoke of mirth?
If such an evening, tho' but one,
It hath been yours to spend alone--
Never,--though years may roll along
Cheer'd by the merry dance and song;
Though you mark'd not that bleak wind's sound before,
When louder perchance it used to roar--
Never shall sound of that wintry gale
Be aught to you but a voice of wail!
So o'er the careless heart and eye
The storms of the world go sweeping by;
But oh! when once we have learn'd to weep,
Well doth sorrow his stern watch keep.
Let one of our airy joys decay--
Let one of our blossoms fade away--
And all the griefs that others share
Seem ours, as well as theirs, to bear:
And the sound of wail, like that rushing wind
Shall bring all our own deep woe to mind!
'I went through the world, but I paused not now
At the gladsome heart and the joyous brow:
I went through the world, and I stay'd to mark
Where the heart was sore, and the spirit dark:
And the grief of others, though sad to see,
Was fraught with a demon's joy to me!
'I saw the inconstant lover come to take
Farewell of her he loved in better days,
And, coldly careless, watch the heart-strings break--
Which beat so fondly at his words of praise.
She was a faded, painted, guilt-bow'd thing,
Seeking to mock the hues of early spring,
When misery and years had done their worst
[...] Read more
poem by Caroline Elizabeth Sarah Norton
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Una Nuova Canzone Per Lei
Seduto a guardare
mentre il sole va gi
ascoltando qualcosa
che non sai neanche tu
il "ritmo" del mondo
batte dentro di te
mentre cerchi qualcosa....
che forse non c'!
E rimani cos
incantato a seguire
quei riflessi... che il Sole
non lascia morire.
E ascolti le immagini
dentri di te...
mentre suoni... e la Musica..
...nasce da s...
E sar un'altra volta per lei
una nuova canzone per lei
una storia d'amore per lei
... lei che dorme e non sa che ci sei...
... lei che forse, non la sentir... mai!!!
E quando ti accorgi
che la Sera gi l
che "qualcosa"... finisce...
... o comincia cos....
.....I brividi... i brividi....
che senti salire....
...sono quelli che ancora...
...non riesci a capire!!!
E rimani cos
intontito a guardare
qualche cosa.... che forse...
Non potrai raccontare....
E lasci che il vento
ti porti con s
Mentre suoni...e la Musica...
... nasce da s...
.... e sar....
E sar un'altra volta per lei
una nuova canzone per lei
una storia d'amore per lei
... lei che dorme e non sa che ci sei...
... lei che forse, non la sentir... mai!!!
song performed by Vasco Rossi
Added by Lucian Velea
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Lara
LARA. [1]
CANTO THE FIRST.
I.
The Serfs are glad through Lara's wide domain, [2]
And slavery half forgets her feudal chain;
He, their unhoped, but unforgotten lord —
The long self-exiled chieftain is restored:
There be bright faces in the busy hall,
Bowls on the board, and banners on the wall;
Far chequering o'er the pictured window, plays
The unwonted fagots' hospitable blaze;
And gay retainers gather round the hearth,
With tongues all loudness, and with eyes all mirth.
II.
The chief of Lara is return'd again:
And why had Lara cross'd the bounding main?
Left by his sire, too young such loss to know,
Lord of himself; — that heritage of woe,
That fearful empire which the human breast
But holds to rob the heart within of rest! —
With none to check, and few to point in time
The thousand paths that slope the way to crime;
Then, when he most required commandment, then
Had Lara's daring boyhood govern'd men.
It skills not, boots not, step by step to trace
His youth through all the mazes of its race;
Short was the course his restlessness had run,
But long enough to leave him half undone.
III.
And Lara left in youth his fatherland;
But from the hour he waved his parting hand
Each trace wax'd fainter of his course, till all
Had nearly ceased his memory to recall.
His sire was dust, his vassals could declare,
'Twas all they knew, that Lara was not there;
Nor sent, nor came he, till conjecture grew
Cold in the many, anxious in the few.
His hall scarce echoes with his wonted name,
His portrait darkens in its fading frame,
Another chief consoled his destined bride,
The young forgot him, and the old had died;
"Yet doth he live!" exclaims the impatient heir,
And sighs for sables which he must not wear.
[...] Read more
Lara. A Tale
The Serfs are glad through Lara's wide domain,
And slavery half forgets her feudal chain;
He, their unhoped, but unforgotten lord--
The long self-exiled chieftain is restored:
There be bright faces in the busy hall,
Bowls on the board, and banners on the wall;
Far chequering o'er the pictured window, plays
The unwonted fagots' hospitable blaze;
And gay retainers gather round the hearth,
With tongues all loudness, and with eyes all mirth.
II.
The chief of Lara is return'd again:
And why had Lara cross'd the bounding main?
Left by his sire, too young such loss to know,
Lord of himself;--that heritage of woe,
That fearful empire which the human breast
But holds to rob the heart within of rest!--
With none to check, and few to point in time
The thousand paths that slope the way to crime;
Then, when he most required commandment, then
Had Lara's daring boyhood govern'd men.
It skills not, boots not, step by step to trace
His youth through all the mazes of its race;
Short was the course his restlessness had run,
But long enough to leave him half undone.
III.
And Lara left in youth his fatherland;
But from the hour he waved his parting hand
Each trace wax'd fainter of his course, till all
Had nearly ceased his memory to recall.
His sire was dust, his vassals could declare,
'Twas all they knew, that Lara was not there;
Nor sent, nor came he, till conjecture grew
Cold in the many, anxious in the few.
His hall scarce echoes with his wonted name,
His portrait darkens in its fading frame,
Another chief consoled his destined bride,
The young forgot him, and the old had died;
'Yet doth he live!' exclaims the impatient heir,
And sighs for sables which he must not wear.
A hundred scutcheons deck with gloomy grace
The Laras' last and longest dwelling-place;
But one is absent from the mouldering file,
That now were welcome to that Gothic pile.
IV.
He comes at last in sudden loneliness,
And whence they know not, why they need not guess;
[...] Read more
VI. Giuseppe Caponsacchi
Answer you, Sirs? Do I understand aright?
Have patience! In this sudden smoke from hell,—
So things disguise themselves,—I cannot see
My own hand held thus broad before my face
And know it again. Answer you? Then that means
Tell over twice what I, the first time, told
Six months ago: 't was here, I do believe,
Fronting you same three in this very room,
I stood and told you: yet now no one laughs,
Who then … nay, dear my lords, but laugh you did,
As good as laugh, what in a judge we style
Laughter—no levity, nothing indecorous, lords!
Only,—I think I apprehend the mood:
There was the blameless shrug, permissible smirk,
The pen's pretence at play with the pursed mouth,
The titter stifled in the hollow palm
Which rubbed the eyebrow and caressed the nose,
When I first told my tale: they meant, you know,
"The sly one, all this we are bound believe!
"Well, he can say no other than what he says.
"We have been young, too,—come, there's greater guilt!
"Let him but decently disembroil himself,
"Scramble from out the scrape nor move the mud,—
"We solid ones may risk a finger-stretch!
And now you sit as grave, stare as aghast
As if I were a phantom: now 't is—"Friend,
"Collect yourself!"—no laughing matter more—
"Counsel the Court in this extremity,
"Tell us again!"—tell that, for telling which,
I got the jocular piece of punishment,
Was sent to lounge a little in the place
Whence now of a sudden here you summon me
To take the intelligence from just—your lips!
You, Judge Tommati, who then tittered most,—
That she I helped eight months since to escape
Her husband, was retaken by the same,
Three days ago, if I have seized your sense,—
(I being disallowed to interfere,
Meddle or make in a matter none of mine,
For you and law were guardians quite enough
O' the innocent, without a pert priest's help)—
And that he has butchered her accordingly,
As she foretold and as myself believed,—
And, so foretelling and believing so,
We were punished, both of us, the merry way:
Therefore, tell once again the tale! For what?
Pompilia is only dying while I speak!
Why does the mirth hang fire and miss the smile?
My masters, there's an old book, you should con
For strange adventures, applicable yet,
[...] Read more
poem by Robert Browning from The Ring and the Book
Added by Veronica Serbanoiu
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Epilogue
(THE GRAVEYARD OF SPOON RIVER. TWO VOICES ARE HEARD BEHIND A SCREEN DECORATED WITH DIABOLICAL AND ANGELIC FIGURES IN VARIOUS ALLEGORICAL RELATIONS. A FAINT LIGHT SHOWS DIMLY THROUGH THE SCREEN AS IF IT WERE WOVEN OF LEAVES, BRANCHES AND SHADOWS.)
FIRST VOICE
A game of checkers?
SECOND VOICE
Well, I don't mind.
FIRST VOICE
I move the Will.
SECOND VOICE
You're playing it blind.
FIRST VOICE
Then here's the Soul.
SECOND VOICE
Checked by the Will.
FIRST VOICE
Eternal Good!
SECOND VOICE
And Eternal Ill.
FIRST VOICE
I haste for the King row.
SECOND VOICE
Save your breath.
FIRST VOICE
I was moving Life.
SECOND VOICE
You're checked by Death.
[...] Read more
poem by Edgar Lee Masters
Added by Poetry Lover
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