The Butcher of Lima and Footprints to Mantaro Valley (Two Poems)

Footprints to Mantaro Valley
(Peru; in English and Spanish)

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.

The Butcher of Lima (Dedicated to: Mario Poggi)

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)

Poet, Author Dennis L. Siluk, is now traveling throughout South and Central America and when given the chance, is stopping at Internets to send back some of his poetry, as he creates his poems. His site: http://dennissiluk.tripod.com

In The News:

---

I Saw the Universe

I can see the cerulean blue of the skiesOr the indigo of the nightI can see the stars wink, the grin of the moonDuring the changes of it's monthly face**I am in awe**I... Read More

Poetry in a Nutshell

Poetry is more than just rhyming and prose that is in meters and verse. It is an art form. It is something that can not be judged by its cover and can not... Read More

Ceasar Vallejo: Black Roses [In English and Spanish]

Cesar Vallejo: Black RosesBow down your head ol' poet- To face God's grace ahead There are no more trenchesTo dig today? In the forest of your head,So-: Bow down, bow down,Ol' barbaric poet!... Read More

Three Poems: The Monkey Man of Lima, Plus Two More

What Hides behind the Minute?What hides behind the minute? It seems, no one really knows; How many times will we wakeup, To count the minutes gone?The rose was dead when I arrived; The... Read More

Three Poems (While in Transition/English and Spanish)

Here are three more poems by the author, Dennis Siluk, while traveling througout Central and South America.Three Poems While in Transition (In Spanish and English)Poem OneEnglish VersionOrange Timid MoonO?er the Copan... Read More

The Gaul of La Laguna de Paca

Part OneI tell you a legend of long ago Of the sunken city of La Laguna de Paca, (Where I had met a lingering ghost) Within this region of Huancayo--Peru; Truth lies, but... Read More

Welcome to the Town of Feeling

Happy, Sad, Mad and Glad, Moved in down the streetCautious watched them, from her window, Wondering, which one should I meet?Confused came in with overwhelmed and said, "The Panics have come to town"Then... Read More

Colorful Talk

"I heard what you said, Red. Yet, I have to disagree. There's nothing wrong with my voice, You're just filled with jealousy.""You just don't understand, Tan. Let me alleviate your fears. It's not... Read More

The Goat and the Rope [a Poem: in Spanish and English]

The Goat and the Ropewhere there were devils I saw none. nothing. the air is hot. milky substance. I am and we are looking at this deep. souls lost. we are looking... Read More

Never Ever More

Once upon a midnight dreary, coffee cold and vision bleary, all night sat there writing COBOL, coding spread across the bed sheets, changing syntax for the mainframe, having checked... Read More

Shakespeares Sonnet XVIII, Shall I Compare Thee to a Summers Day?

Shakespeare's sonnets require time and effort to appreciate. Understanding the numerous meanings of the lines, the crisply made references, the brilliance of the images, and the complexity of the sound, rhythm and structure... 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

Spell of the Andes: (in English and Spanish)

Note: written 4-15-05, while driving through the Andes of Peru, from Huancayo to Lima. I sensed I was but an ant, among the mass of stone, earth and foliage of this enchanting, and... Read More

Opposites Do Attract Quite Well

When I am climbing up, you are stepping down. When I wear a smile, you wear a frown. When I am very happy, you are feeling sad. When I am doing well, you... Read More

The Plane from Iquitos [1959-Part One]

Iquitos & the Amazon Part OneIt was December 2, l959, I was sitting on a small prop-plane leaving Iquitos, Peru for a trip down the Amazon toward the opening, the mouth of the... 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

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

Farewell to Lester Graybill

I never met a man, who could shake my hand, and make my heart feel like a hearth afire.I never met a man, who could smile so easy, real honest.I never met a... Read More

Two Poems Written During Recovery

Since my wife and I are moving, or preparing to move, we've been going through our things as most people must, to prepare for the new location, and in doing so, I found... 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

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 amongThe rapids of the Rio? Is not your name Mantaro Valley?Beyond the footprints of the Andes--?I can... Read More

Wondering

How I wonder what he's doing as I sit alone at night. How I wonder who he's seeing How I wonder if I'm right. How I wonder if he's ever thought of coming... 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

Ambiguity and Abstraction in Bob Dylan?s Lyrics

To many people contemporary poetry is a turn-off. The reason for this is that the majority of these poems are boring. They are so because they fail to enable people to identify with... Read More

Ode to: The Ice Maiden of Ampatos Summit [now in: English and Spanish]

Ded?cate to Antonio Castillo. L. Of. Los Andes UniversitarioOde to:The Ice Maiden Of Ampato's SummitEnglish VersionPart One The ClimbIn the spring of my life, in my villageBy the Andes, I awoke one morningTo... Read More

Writing Innovative Poetry

Writing innovative poetry, the kind of poetry that reputable literary journals publish, entails knowing exactly what each word of a poem does to the reader. A good poem should be evocative, skillful, and... Read More

Man Unbowed [A poem]

Man UnbowedUnbowed by sin, the world of man, stands Upon his feet he gapes into the sky, The indifference of centuries within his eyes, And in his heart the curse of the old... Read More

Its What She Didnt Say

When I hear your voice inside my head it makes me think of you every single day as I fight back tears of sadness and wonder if you're okayMy life is empty without... Read More

A Happiness Poem

If a happiness poem could bring forth a smile, Then my face would always dress in style.If my ears could hear my computer screen, From one to another, they, too, would grin.My keyboard... Read More