Footprints to Mantaro Valley (a poem in Spanish and English)

Footprints to Mantaro Valley
(English version)

In what retreat art hid?-

Where falling mountains groan In shadow and among

The rapids of the Rio? Is not your name Mantaro Valley?

Beyond the footprints of the Andes--?

I can hear your voice in echoes

I can hear thy voice, divinely low. I do but know thy by a glance

As the clouds above me know? . Ah! Gone like that, but love-love!

Hath found my naked soul!

4-20-05 (#627) Note: written after seeing the Mantaro Valley, beyond the Andes.

Huellas al Valle del Mantaro Por Dennis Siluk Traducido por Rosa Pe?aloza

En que retiro el arte se esconde?

Donde Monta?as decrecientes gimen En la sombra y entre

Los r?pidos del r?o? No es tu nombre Valle del Mantaro

M?s all? de las huellas de los Andes-?

Puedo o?r tu voz en ecos

Puedo o?r tu voz, divinamente bajo. Pero te conozco por una mirada

Como las nubes arriba conocen... . Ah! ido as?, pero amor-amor!

Encontraron mi desnuda alma!

The Butcher of Lima (Dedicated to: Mario Poggi)

English Version

Prologue: I do not wish to judge anyone, lest I be judged, and God forbid should I be judged by anyone but He. Thus, I write this following poem with a word of discretion to the reader likewise, that all is not as it seems, is it. Having said that, it has been said the Psychologist Mario Poggi-whom I met on three occasions and purchased a sculpture from, and received one from him as a gift-has learned the hard way-that is, the curse of revenge has long wings; hence, revenge is for the Lord. Why? Because both the avenger and the victim are cursed thereafter (one does not have time to make amends if that is indeed his wish; the other, loses his life slowly as he lives on). Thus, "The Butcher of Lima," is really a picture of the sculpture Mr. Poggi calls, "The Face of Anguish"; or at least it is to me. During our three meetings, I did not find in his eyes guilt for his murderous deed, for he rid a city of a maniac who was cutting up bodies and burying them,-and perhaps saved a few lives, did he not? But rather a sadness that he did not close his eyes during the process of his slaying of man called "The Butcher," and now the sculptures he has molded with his hands are the eyes of his soul.

The Poem
"The Butcher of Lima"

The Psychologist, he killed

"The Butcher of Lima," So it has been said?

With a belt around his neck He strangled him to death!

As he sucked in his breath-- Head carved like a fish!?

Poetic Justice!

He died a purple death

The "Butcher of Lima?." And no one wept.

And the media cried the name: "Poggi! Poggi!?you're insane!"

It is as fate would have it

Motionless and forgotten Are the cold blades of redemption. #628 (4-21-05)

Spanish Version

"El Descuartizador de Lima"

Por Dennis L. Siluk
Traducido por Rosa Pe?aloza

El psic?logo, ?l mato al

"Descuartizador de Lima," O eso es lo que dicen ...

Con una correa alrededor de su cuello

Lo estrangul? hasta matarlo! Mientras ?l se asfixiaba-

Cabeza cortada como un pescado!...

Obra de justicia

El muri? asfixiado

El "Descuartizador de Lima..." Y nadie llor?

Y la media gritaba el nombre:

"Poggi! Poggi! ...eres un enfermo!"

Es este como el destino lo tendr?a Insensitivo y olvidado

Son las espadas fr?as de redenci?n.

Two Poems by the Author and Poet, Dennis Siluk, while traveling in Peru and Central America, April, 2005. Said the Author,"The Mantaro Valley was captivating...." as it led him out of the Andes, and through the valley itself, into Huancayo, Peru. For more information on this poem, or on the second poem, "The Butcher of Lima," you may want to review the article by Marissa Cardenas,Columnist-Correo Newspaper "Cultural" page, dated 23 April, 2005. Rosa P.

---

The Lull of Twilight [Over Mantaro Valley] In English and Spanish

Twilight, was now beginning. As forthe sun, it was down-down over the Mantaro Valley of Peru. The softness of the Valley's mist, covered everything; from the Andes to the Valley?and through(then I noticed)?the... Read More

Mechanical Poetry; Part Two

What do you do when you want to write poetry? I hope your answer is "I start writing." Even writing a bad poem is better than waiting for the "right words." You can... Read More

Four Poems: Two for the Devil, Two for Peru

Here is some witty poetry (not sure if that is the proper word: witty, but it will do): one poem on the Aztec year 2012, a year that has been in the public's... Read More

Poetry and Popular Culture

Is poetry too complicated for the average reader? Is it too cryptic, scholarly? If you ask a large group of average people what they like or don't like about poetry, you'll get a... Read More

Passion and Poetry, and Life

Ironically, the passion that can neutralize the repulsion for difficulties depends on the effort to overcome these difficulties. The irony resides in the circularity of this principle ? which applies to all areas... Read More

Exalted Poetry; Two poem [and commentary]

Bells for Belphegor!...Where immortal veils never meet Belphegor, Arch devil speaks: In vagaries form, With signs and signatures not yet born-; The Tagaririm, order of the demon: They come to meet, the King... Read More

Black Blood, in Jeremiahs Vines - A Poem and an Article

Black Blood, in Jeremiah's Vines [A Dream Poem]And I heard the crackling of wood, and I noticed the Lord God had made men of wood, and fire came from his mouth.Then the wind... Read More

Ode To Quetzalcoatal [Now in Spanish and English]

Ode to Quetzalc?atlQuetzalc?atl the GreatNo one knew his true name, so they Called him Quetzalc?atl-feather Serpent He and his crew of nineteen: faces Strange faces, images of a prince, a lord: King of... Read More

Antidotes for an Alibi

Amy King's first full-length collection, Antidotes for an Alibi, insists that we examine the deceptive clarity of our actions and the goals that motivate us. How does one actually get from "A" to... Read More

Three Sweet Poems, and Two Not So Sweet [now in: SPANISH and English]

1) End PoemWherever you are today- Is where you were meant to be; It's where God, dotted the 'i' and the 't'?!2) God's AngelsGod asked his angels: "Why do you look so sad?"... Read More

How to Write Bad Poetry

"All bad poetry springs from genuine feeling."--Oscar WildePeople write poetry for a plethora of reasons, but this article has a sharpened arrowhead aimed directly at the fingertips of amateur poets who wish to... Read More

Barriers

There are many times I set up barriers and walls, invisible unless you come too close, And then you hit them.You wonder what happened.You didn't know, I can't let you in.I've lost the... Read More

Top 20 Poetry Quotations

Explore the meaning of poetry and the motivation of poets with this special collection of evocative quotations..."A poet is someone who is astonished by everything."-- Anonymous"Reality only reveals itself when it is illuminated... Read More

Two Poems: Boyhood, and Old Age [with a note on style]

BoyhoodOh me! Thy glorious days have flown! I mealy noticed, now they're gone, How quickly passed the flowers! Time does not stop youth's bells; It was like I was in a spell, And... Read More

Tsunami Day

A Poem - By Lorraine KemberIt was a day like any other and mother, father, sister, brother, were carrying out the customs of their land. When suddenly without warning, Mother Nature came calling,... Read More

My Final Defeat - Fixed Competition

She probably can't remember and I know I can never forget...the first time I saw her like that I was only nine years-oldnot naive by any stretchhaving seen my share of tragedy-my parent's... Read More

The Time Has Come and Buzzing

Most of my poems are written late at night, often, as this one was, after I have turned out the lights to go to sleep. It seems that is the time when I... Read More

Five Poems

Poems have different cores, or so I believe, and can only be structured well for certain figurative language-heart beats; like all counselors are not made for all clients, so all poems are not... Read More

To My Friend, With Love

All is still; all quiet; The world seems to be at peace. My soul is singing its rhythmic melody And I'm led like in a trance to write its tunes. ... Read More

The Ballad of: Brawling Mad-dog Sergeant Rook [Now in: SPANISH and English]

English VersionA bunch of us guys in the hutIn ?Nam Were playing cards, singing songs; In a solo-room, back of the hut Lay mad-dog, Sergeant Rook;And watching from a distance Was his sidekick,... Read More

Eight Poems

Out of the eight poems provided here [all previously unpublished], four are Poetic Prose, a few Visionary [what I call Vsionary anyhow], a few Free Verse, and a few with more form and... Read More

Wars, Air of Ambiguity [for: Lt. Laura Walker] in SPANISH and English

Wars, air of AmbiguityDedicated to 1st. Lt. Laura Walker (From an old soldier/Vietnam Veteran)[Advance] We fight in foreign lands not because we necessarily love its culture or land, but because we believe in... Read More

Lifes Too Short

Time goes by to quickly to hold your feelings inside Especially when their so strong even if they don't abide...By all the accepted rules most people live by because this one time in... Read More

Caught in the Arms of ED

YOU MIGHT THINK I AM STRONGI THINK YOU GOT IT WRONGI LIVE LIFE DAY TO DAYHOPING IT WILL GO MY WAYI HAVE MY FRIENDS AND MY FOOD PLANMY THERAPIST AND MY THOUGHTSMY EXERCISE... Read More

Death & the Supernatural: Poetry/Five Poems

Supernatural PoetryHere are five poems,-what I call-death and supernatural poems. Perhaps a bit bizarre, a few stanzas may be, but with unfailing subtlety of course, and a ting of acuteness, but we have... Read More

Two Poems with Triggers [and a commentary]

So Many Einstein'sThe morning mist, insists there is a God. The earth remains faithful to its orbit. The comet cries out to a hundred planets.The sun ascends over the horizon. From eight to... Read More

You Lost Your Last Gamble and Me

I will never think twice nor will I roll the dice When it comes to my life I will take my Grannio's adviceYou play the hand you're dealt when it comes to who... Read More

Anne Bradstreet, To My Dear and Loving Husband, A Discussion

"To My Dear and Loving Husband" was written by America's first female poet, the Puritan, Anne Bradstreet. In fact, Anne Bradstreet is one of only a handful of female American poets during the... Read More

Two Poems on the Traditions of Peru [in English and Spanish]

Atahualpa's Game [Peruvian]Sometimes, it's not wise To share your wisdom ---as did, Atahualpa (The Inca King) in the Game of chess; thereafter, He was condemned to death.6/6/05 #713Note: Atahualpa, was the... Read More