(The city by the bay of Northern California, near which the Pacific Ocean resides; the year is 1967)
Mid October seemed like some spring day,
When through the poised waters, dry as lead,
The ferry, like vague shadows that stand the dead,
Slipped down the curved coast of Frisco bay,
Rounded the Golden Gate,-and San Francisco lay,
Before me, that gay city, pink and red,
Hippies covered Haigh Asbury's homeless head,-
My home, to be, I found stirring and grey.
The waves busted on the wooden-sides; fishermen
Nearby with long necks, looked and cast again.
Deep in emerald waters we wandered free,
When abruptly the bay currents were stirred
The ferry bearing restrained the great sea bird
Settling, like Asbury's spirit, in the sea.
6/4/05 #708
Note by the Author: Sonnets are tricky little creatures, and although I started out to create one, I found I had to lay it aside, and create a semi-sonnet, for I did not want to lose tone, and spirit of the waters around the bay of San Francisco, and the echoes that came with it. I had lived there in l967-68 for a year. And many ferry rides were available for a few dollars. Some even chanced it by going under and out beyond the Golden Gate, and so it was the supreme achievement of my youthful years to have become a part of this fascinating city, in such a fascinating time period, one unequalled since the 1920's when Hemingway and Fitzgerald walked the streets of Paris, and Scott, coined the term, "The Jazz Age," back in l967, it was the Hippie Era.
I suppose for me, I do not feel bound by formal regularity to create a full sonnet, but in this poem neither did I want blank verse, which is unrhymed iambic pentameter. So this is what I came up with. The trip I took on the boat was actually with my mother, who came to visit me in the city by the bay, as I had gotten drafted to go into the Army, and onto Vietnam. It was a joyful memory for both of us, which lasted until she passed on in 2003; yes, we talked about those far off days in San Francisco, of which she only stayed for a week, for 35-years; what more can one ask for out an experience.
Poet Dennis Siluk web site: http://dennissiluk.tripod.com
car service from Midway Burlington .. Lockport Chicago limo O’Hare"I heard what you said, Red. Yet, I have to... Read More
Key Largo:The fans turn lazily in front of the doorThey... Read More
Stone Beds [Pompeii's surge]Advance: after the great eruption of Pompeii's... Read More
"Song of the Great Zimbabwe"Across the African, winter's skyIn the... Read More
Ah! Leave the gold, wealth and landSays the Inca King?;... Read More
Bells for Belphegor!...Where immortal veils never meet Belphegor, Arch devil... Read More
McLean, VA - "The Healing Conscious" tells the story of... Read More
The Epic Poem:A Death in Cajamarca, Peru [Atahualpa, in Cajamarca]Advance:... Read More
Once upon a midnight dreary, coffee cold and vision... Read More
Ed Gallagher Dec. 11, 1907 - Sept. 5, 2004This poem... Read More
Our home was warm in the shade of the trees... Read More
There I sat, ninety-five degree weatherOutside; the bookstore caf?, was... Read More
Part One Midget HistoryI am thirty-six inches tall, that is... Read More
The funeral rite concluded With the pastor shaking hands, Offering... Read More
Asha of DarfurCry, cry-oh little Darfur woman For your sister... Read More
I never met a man, who could shake my hand,... Read More
I am not the one I was before yesterday.I cannot... Read More
Advance: in Mr. Siluk's poetry one finds symbolist values, sensuous... Read More
There once lived an old man and his goodwife On... Read More
There are many times I set up barriers and walls,... Read More
In the Mountains of Haiti(In the City)-July is a hot... Read More
Hammers. Timbers. Iron. Steel.They're laying down a mighty keel.As ant-like... Read More
Tale of the Brick Maker, Of San Jer?nimo, Peru... Read More
Growing hurts sometimes; saying goodbye to friends, ... Read More
1) End PoemWherever you are today- Is where you were... Read More
Granger limo Chicago ..Do not be afraid to shine. This world needs what... Read More
Blind DesignsBorn today, gone tomorrow Like a butterfly with no... Read More
You are to me my lifeline my security. That scares... Read More
You make me smile like I've seldom done before You... Read More
The Epic Poem:A Death in Cajamarca, Peru [Atahualpa, in Cajamarca]Advance:... Read More
Emlyn Williams Theatre, Mold, North Wales: 20th February 2003Clwyd Theatr... Read More
Stone Beds [Pompeii's surge]Advance: after the great eruption of Pompeii's... Read More
Hammers. Timbers. Iron. Steel.They're laying down a mighty keel.As ant-like... Read More
Growing hurts sometimes; saying goodbye to friends, ... Read More
Burning Autumn Leaves [1950s in St. Paul, Minnesota]My long steel... Read More
The light of all eternity shines with me now /... Read More
Ocean Heal MeOcean heal my wounds Let your waves curl... Read More
Asha of DarfurCry, cry-oh little Darfur woman For your sister... Read More
In the quiet of the arctic night- In its deep... Read More
The Poet's Corner [Three poem/ see review of poetry under... Read More
The following two poems, one in English, the other in... Read More
English Version1) Grendel's DivorceYou must know that I do not... Read More
(The city by the bay of Northern California, near which... Read More
Poems have different cores, or so I believe, and can... Read More
Lord Byron's opening couplet to "She Walks In Beauty" is... Read More
Iquitos & the Amazon Part OneIt was December 2, l959,... Read More
[Episode Five]Arizona Blue-GunfighterThe Wolves Nest-in the North[Episode Five]Northern Minnesota Area?Winter... Read More
Ode to Quetzalc?atlQuetzalc?atl the GreatNo one knew his true name,... Read More
Thank youDedicated to soldiers and their loved onesFor those who... Read More
Daybreak at Pikes Creek [Summer of 2005]Daybreak by Lake Superior... Read More
Poetry |