Burning Autumn Leaves
[1950s in St. Paul, Minnesota]
My long steel pointed rake punctured
And twisted through tons of autumn leaves
(back in the '50s);
And there's a hill yet, I didn't rake, I see
Behind it, two embankments
Leaves I didn't rake a day ago;
The essence of fall sleeps on the ground.
I love the scent of burning leaves:
I seem to dream of them nowadays.
I cannot shake the excitement I get
From the sight and smells of burning leaves.
Now the city will not allow the burning,
Not sure what can take its place-:
Only wishful thinking and dreaming, I think.
But every leaf that now appears, in autumn
I keep hearing the cracking of the fire; see
The flickering-flames of burning leaves; I
Can even smell--the autumn leaves of long ago.
I have had too much of raking leaves, I do believe-.
I'm now old and tired, too tired to rake those hills;
Yet raking I still desire, not sure why.
There were a thousand days I raked, back then
Held in hand, the rake that struck the earth-
Spiked, into its dirt-capturing those critters (leaves)
Like thieves-: thieves sleeping.
This tiredness of mine will never go away, I fear
It's called aging, or something, so I will have to find
Another place, to smell the burning autumn leaves;
And perhaps, perchance, do just a ting of raking:
Before the long, long, very long sleep.
#771 7/24/05
In Spanish
Hojas ardientes de oto?o (Los a?os de 1950 en St. Pa?l. Minnesota)
Mi rastrillo de acero largo y puntiagudo pinch?
Y dio vuelta a trav?s de toneladas de hojas
(Atr?s en los a?os 50);
Y hay una colina a?n, que no rastrill?, yo veo
Detr?s de esto, dos terraplenes
De hojas que yo no rastrille hace un d?a;
La esencia del oto?o dormir? sobre el piso.
Me gusta la esencia de las hojas ardiendo;
Yo parezco so?ar con ellas estos d?as.
No puedo sacudirme el entusiasmo que consigo
De la vista y los olores de quemar hojas:
Ahora la ciudad no permitir? quemar,
No seguro de qu? puede tomar lugar-:
Solo el optimismo pensando y so?ando, Pienso
Pero cada hoja que ahora aparece, en oto?o
Yo sigo oyendo el crujir del fuego; veo
El parpadear de las llamas de hojas ardiendo; yo
Puedo a?n oler- las hojas de oto?o de hace tiempo.
He tenido demasiado rastrillando hojas, Yo creo-
Ahora yo estoy viejo y cansado, demasiado cansado
para rastrillar esas colinas;
Aun rastrillando y todav?a deseando, no seguro ?por qu??
Hubo miles de d?as que rastrill?, atr?s entonces
Sosteniendo en la mano, el rastrillo que golpeo la tierra-
Claveteando, dentro de su suciedad- capturando aquellos
bichos (hojas)
Como ladrones-: ladrones durmiendo.
Este cansancio m?o no se ir? jam?s, yo temo
Esto es llamado envejecimiento o vejez, entonces yo tendr?
que encontrar
Otro lugar, para oler las hojas ardiendo en oto?o;
Y talvez, la posibilidad, de hacer justo un intento de rastrillar:
Antes de largo, largo, muy largo sue?o.
#771 7/24/05
Poet Dennis Siluk http://dennissiluk.tripod.com
limo prices to midway Crystal Lake west of Randal .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareJOINEDHeart beat of man pounding - yet unheard joined... Read More
Writing innovative poetry, the kind of poetry that reputable literary... Read More
Amy King Antidotes for an Alibi BlazeVox Books ISBN 0-9759227-5-0... Read More
Frog SummerSummer grows hot, for the New-blooded frogs; The bugs... Read More
Our home was warm in the shade of the trees... Read More
House of the Goblin [Part Two of Three]Here is where,... Read More
Five Poems from Home1) Remembering: Dorothy Parker [Dedicated to the... Read More
Have you ever experienced infatuation with someone you know is... Read More
In early fall, in Minnesota, the rain falls, falls, In... Read More
Part One Midget HistoryI am thirty-six inches tall, that is... Read More
Twilight, was now beginning. As forthe sun, it was down-down... Read More
I wish we had met 20 years ago... A different... Read More
When I hear your voice inside my head it makes... Read More
Is poetry too complicated for the average reader? Is it... Read More
Emlyn Williams Theatre, Mold, North Wales: 20th February 2003Clwyd Theatr... Read More
So many looked to you for inspiration,Unlikely hero for the... Read More
Poet Stephen B. Wiley's first book of poetry, Hero Island,... Read More
You make me smile like I've seldom done before You... Read More
Key Largo:The fans turn lazily in front of the doorThey... Read More
#25The King and Delka [Split Mawkishness-on Moiromma /Part V]Sickly SentimentalityI... Read More
Phantom of the Rocks[Huancayo, Peru]Night falls deepUpon the traveler!Low, over... Read More
Take some time to stop and look at nature. Pick... Read More
Wars, air of AmbiguityDedicated to 1st. Lt. Laura Walker (From... Read More
Have you ever read the lyrics of a Simon and... Read More
Amy King's first full-length collection, Antidotes for an Alibi, insists... Read More
taxi o'hare Auburn ..I get up in the morningAnd want to stay in... Read More
Ded?cate to Antonio Castillo. L. Of. Los Andes UniversitarioOde to:The... Read More
Storm Rising along the Lima Coast [Summer of 2002]?wind was... Read More
When your life becomes unbearable And the light of... Read More
Part oneI see them in the skies I hear them... Read More
I can see the cerulean blue of the skiesOr the... Read More
The funeral rite concluded With the pastor shaking hands, Offering... Read More
#25The King and Delka [Split Mawkishness-on Moiromma /Part V]Sickly SentimentalityI... Read More
You cannot make someone love you. All you can do... Read More
I cannot bear to think of when you will be... Read More
Do not be afraid to shine. This world needs what... Read More
The Monster Mash The Graveyard SmashHave you heard of the... Read More
You've been writing poetry since that first assignment in your... Read More
Shakespeare's sonnets require time and effort to appreciate. Understanding the... Read More
(The city by the bay of Northern California, near which... Read More
Ed Gallagher Dec. 11, 1907 - Sept. 5, 2004This poem... Read More
I am not the one I was before yesterday.I cannot... Read More
Footprints to Mantaro Valley (English version)In what retreat art hid?-Where... Read More
English VersionThe Merchant of Copan [480 AD]Advance: The ballgame at... Read More
What's a prisoner to do when justice fails and... Read More
When I am climbing up, you are stepping down. When... Read More
Time goes by to quickly to hold your feelings inside... Read More
If a happiness poem could bring forth a smile, Then... Read More
Advance: Mr. Dennis Siluk's poetry can have its fire-hearted twists:... Read More
Robert Burns, a poor man, an educated man, and a... Read More
Poetry |