The RetroLounge Daily Poem Thread (Wed 1/18/06)

[RetroLounge]

To Say Before Going to Sleep

I would like to sing someone to sleep,
have someone to sit by and be with.
I would like to cradle you and softly sing,
be your companion while you sleep or wake.
I would like to be the only person
in the house who knew: the night outside was cold.
And would like to listen to you
and outside to the world and to the woods.

The clocks are striking, calling to each other,
and one can see right to the edge of time.
Outside the house a strange man is afoot
and a strange dog barks, wakened from his sleep.
Beyond that there is silence.

My eyes rest upon your face wide-open;
and they hold you gently, letting you go
when something in the dark begins to move.

Rainer Maria Rilke

***************************

Here I am at 4:30 a.m. and I need someone to sing me to sleep...

RL

[Heidi]

1. I don't do this for just _anyone_, RL, but:

"Go to sleep, my baAby, my baAby, my baAby . . ."

[RetroLounge]

2. ...only to wake up screaming your name

:rofl:

thanks...

RL

[Heidi]

3. Oh, look!

It's a Darla sammich! :blush:

[RetroLounge]

4. Wrong, oh so wrong, just not right...

:rofl:

RL

[Heidi]

5. What's even creepier

is how long Alfalfa's left arm is in that photo. :scared:

(And if that's Darla's arm, she's a contortionist of the highest order.)

[SeattleGirl]

6. Thanks, RL!

I love Rilke's stuff! I hope you are feeling better today! :hug:

[Callalily]

7. I suspect RL

that we've all felt this way at one time or another. Great selection

[RetroLounge]

9. Thanks!

and good morning...

:hi:

RL

[wildhorses]

8. makes me wonder what happens next...

outside the wind is howling

[miss_american_pie]

10. Good morning

And I'd offer to sing, but even my kid doesn't want me to sing him lullabies anymore.

"Momma sing quiet. My ears hurt."

[RetroLounge]

11. and eventually, they will sing instead

RL

[LaraMN]

12. Ok, but the only song I know the full lyrics to is

"I wanna be sedated." :P

[RetroLounge]

14. Now that is a lullaby!

Gabba Gabba Hey!

RL

[CaliforniaPeggy]

13. Ah, my dear RetroLounge......

How gentle, how lovely.....

Thank you......


:loveya: :hug:

[RetroLounge]

15. Most welcome...

:hi:

RL

[swimboy]

16. For tonight, in my best Welsh tenor--

Ar Hyd y Nos (All through the night)

Holl amrantau'r sêr ddywedant
Ar hyd y nos
"Dyma'r ffordd i fro gogoniant;"
Ar hyd y nos
Golau arall yw tywyllwch,
I arddangos gwir brydferthwch,
Teulu'r nefoedd mewn tawelwch,
Ar hyd y nos.

Sleep my love, and peace attend thee
All through the night;
Guardian angels God will lend thee,
All through the night,
Soft the drowsy hours are creeping,
Hill and vale in slumber steeping,
I my loving vigil keeping,
All through the night.

[miss_american_pie]

17. My mother sang that to us

And one night when she was out I asked my father to sing the "pizza child" song.

I imagine your version is much better.

[RetroLounge]

18. You are a man of many talents

I feel a nap coming on...

:hi:

RL

[Puglover]

19. Nice Rilke piece Retro...

I usually find ole Rainer sooooo HEAVY. That was lovely. Thanks for sharing.