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
cleaning service near Bannockburn ..Lord Byron's opening couplet to "She Walks In Beauty" is... Read More
Have you ever read the lyrics of a Simon and... Read More
Have you ever thought about how nice it would be... Read More
Here are three more poems by the author, Dennis Siluk,... Read More
Fair Andes! Thy arms reach highOf iron-woven solid stone Thu... Read More
I am among those who know that one never recovers... Read More
LIFE IS A FANTASY!A pink-eyed rabbit, fuzzy whiteHops in bedrooms... Read More
now is not the time to open open that great... Read More
The Monster Mash The Graveyard SmashHave you heard of the... Read More
Footprints to Mantaro Valley (English version)In what retreat art hid?-Where... Read More
1)dying in the bar [sluggishly]yet, I would crawl too upto... Read More
Happy, Sad, Mad and Glad, Moved in down the streetCautious... Read More
To many people contemporary poetry is a turn-off. The reason... Read More
The Exit Poems [And Socrates]Iron and FireIron can be... Read More
She raised me like I was her own daughter from... Read More
Writing innovative poetry, the kind of poetry that reputable literary... Read More
I WANTED TO SAY IT WITH A BUNCH OF FLOWERS... Read More
Have you ever experienced infatuation with someone you know is... Read More
The Epic Poem:A Death in Cajamarca, Peru [Atahualpa, in Cajamarca]Advance:... Read More
the disease of extremism is infectious-; whoever cannot think of... Read More
"To My Dear and Loving Husband" was written by America's... Read More
Note: written after seeing the little adobe 16th century church... Read More
"For this reason poetry is something more philosophical and more... Read More
You can show your poem to your mom, your spouse,... Read More
English VersionThe Merchant of Copan [480 AD]Advance: The ballgame at... Read More
pet-friendly home cleaners Mundelein ..Says Mr. Dennis Siluk, when asked to review his poetry... Read More
I never thought I would have to say GOODBYE to... Read More
Asha of DarfurCry, cry-oh little Darfur woman For your sister... Read More
Lord Byron's opening couplet to "She Walks In Beauty" is... Read More
Bells for Belphegor!...Where immortal veils never meet Belphegor, Arch devil... Read More
Storm Rising along the Lima Coast [Summer of 2002]?wind was... Read More
In early fall, in Minnesota, the rain falls, falls, In... Read More
Time goes by to quickly to hold your feelings inside... Read More
Happy, Sad, Mad and Glad, Moved in down the streetCautious... Read More
LIFE IS A FANTASY!A pink-eyed rabbit, fuzzy whiteHops in bedrooms... Read More
Have you ever experienced infatuation with someone you know is... Read More
Five Poems from Home1) Remembering: Dorothy Parker [Dedicated to the... Read More
I can see the cerulean blue of the skiesOr the... Read More
All is still; all quiet; The world seems to... Read More
"To My Dear and Loving Husband" was written by America's... Read More
You speak simple, completley understandable justifications I respect them, respect... Read More
Twilight, was now beginning. As forthe sun, it was down-down... Read More
No one should have to beg or crawl before humanity.... Read More
Frog SummerSummer grows hot, for the New-blooded frogs; The bugs... Read More
Have you ever thought about how nice it would be... Read More
It's dark, it's cold, its' just six thirty,thoughts of sleep... Read More
What can I do to keep this world in its... Read More
She raised me like I was her own daughter from... Read More
You make me smile like I've seldom done before You... Read More
Burning Autumn Leaves [1950s in St. Paul, Minnesota]My long steel... Read More
Poetry |