Lima, City with the Stretched out Wings [In English and Spanish]

Lima,
City with the Stretched out Wings

It's an ink-black night: no stars: a moon in sight

Just dots of: red, green and white-white lights

As the plane descends, descends, slides down
On the long-drawn-out-spun-out lingering city of lights
Uneven as a crumbled cake, lit up like a Christmas tree-

The sleepless city, with its stretched out wings

Stretching from the mountains to the sea-
Winding through the valley's, forests, and streams
Stretches, stretches its naked wings-endlessly

As,

I'm descending, down, over and around the city
(descending, descending, and sliding to the ground)

The city with stretched out wings-and endless lights
Down, behind, around, the ground, it's immune to me
I'm just part of its evening, a baptism in its inky sea

Invisible people: cats, dogs, birds, and rats-infinite

Uncountable: dots; streams of lit dots, dot-lights;
People: walking, talking, sleeping, eating by the dots
People: waiting, killing, robbing, praying, by the dots

For tomorrow, tomorrow and another tomorrow

They say-:

you are ruthless, and I know this to be true

And they tell me you have thieves and murders-

And this, I dare say-but shall-is also true, very true
But show me a city to the contrary of eight-million-?
I shake my fist and say: '?show me! But no one does'

So alive, so brave, with strong and hungry hearts;

I say, show me one that sings in poverty and smiles
Prove me one that celebrates year-round of its heroes
Show me painters that are as good-that sell on streets-

As good as: Picasso, Dali, Rembrandt, and Yang Yang

And that welcomes the world with stretched out arms-

Show me all this, or some of this, and I will say no more

With this,

I descend to its streets, its crowed winding streets

As well as, to its neighborhoods with dust and soiled air,
And hear the laughs of the children; the dogs on roofs
Sights of the shoe-shiners: men and boys, in the parks

And the numerous food carts; -- musicians, paper sellers

And with its naked featherless wings, covering all

-My Lima, Peru with its renowned Cathedral:

Golden yellow with towering crowns, and

Within its plaza-square, a water fountain-celebrated.

Under its sins, with its wrinkled aged men, lovely women,

They all stand tall and bow to its Inca history, its glory-
Its world that once ruled all, like the Roman Empire,

Like the American Dream, they were the noble, the kings

And now, from drudgery and toil, sweat and strive, all, all Grinding, grinding away, each and everyday, lover of the, King of Kings: Jesus Christ-this is the Lima I know today; a mighty ship that has already sailed the seven seas, now resting!?

Spanish Version

Lima,
La ciudad con las alas extendidas
Translated by Rosa Pe?aloza

Esta es una noche oscura: no estrellas, ni luna a la vista

Solo puntos: rojo, verde y blanco?luces blancas

Mientras que el avi?n desciende, desciende, bajando
A la larga-extendida-plana persistente ciudad de luces
Plana como un panqueque, encendida como un ?rbol de navidad-

La despierta ciudad, con sus alas extendidas

Extendidas desde las monta?as hacia el oc?ano
Zigzagueante a trav?s de los valles, bosques y riachuelos
Estirando, estirando sus alas desnudas-interminables

Mientras,

Voy descendiendo, abajo, por encima y alrededor de la ciudad
(Descendiendo, descendiendo, y desliz?ndose a la tierra)

La ciudad con las alas extendidas-y luces interminables
Abajo, Abajo, detr?s, alrededor, la tierra, es inmune a m?
S?lo soy parte de esta noche, un bautizado en su oscuro oc?ano

Invisible: gente, gatos, perros, p?jaros, y ratas, infinidad

Incontables: puntos, riachuelos de luz, puntos de luz;
Gente: caminando, conversando, durmiendo, comiendo bajo los puntos de luz
Gente: esperando, matando, robando, rezando bajo los puntos de luz

Por ma?ana, ma?ana y otro ma?ana

Ellos dicen--:

Tu eres implacable, y yo se que esto es verdad

Y ellos me dicen t? tienes ladrones, y muertes-

Y esto, me atrevo a decir, que esto tambi?n es cierto, muy cierto

Pero mu?strame una ciudad de ocho millones contraria --?
Sacudo mis pu?os y digo: "?mu?strame," pero nadie lo hace

Tan viva, tan valerosa, con corazones fuertes y hambrientos:

Digo, mu?strame una que canta en pobreza, y sonr?e
Pru?bame una como esa, que celebra alrededor del a?o a sus h?roes
Mu?strame pintores tan buenos-que venden en las calles-

Tan buenos como: Picasso, Dali, Rembrant y Yang Yang

Y que recibe al mundo con extendidos brazos

Mu?strame todo esto, o algo de esto, y no dir? mas

Con esto,

Desciendo a sus calles, atiborrada, zigzagueantes calles

As? como su raro vecindario con polvo en el aire
Y oigo la risa de los ni?os, los perros en los techos
Vista de los lustrabotas, hombres y muchachos, en los parques

Y los numerosos carros de comida, m?sicos y vendedores de peri?dicos

Y con su desnuda y desplumadas alas, cubriendo todo

-Mi Lima, Per?, con su renombrada catedral:

Amarilla dorada con su coronadas torres, y

Dentro de su plaza cuadrada, una celebrada pileta

Bajo su piel, con sus arrugados ancianos, tiernas mujeres,

Todos ellos parados altos, y reverenciando a su historia inca, su
gloria-
Su mundo que una vez gobern? todo, como el Imperio Romano

Como el sue?o de Am?rica, ellos fueron los nobles, los reyes

Y ahora de pesadez, y esfuerzo, sudor, lucha, todos, todos extenuados, fatigados, este y cada d?a, amantes del Rey de los Reyes: Jesucristo-esta es la Lima que conozco, hoy; un poderoso barco que ya naveg? los siete mares, ahora descansando?

Author/Poet Dennis Siluk, web site: http://dennissiluk.tripod.com

apartment cleaning near Highland Park ..
In The News:

Hyundai AutoEver America suffered a data breach affecting 2,000 current and former employees, exposing names, Social Security numbers and driver's license information.
Washington court rules automated license plate reader images are public records, even when stored by vendors like Flock Safety, setting precedent for transparency.
Fake airline texts claiming flight cancellations are targeting travelers with convincing scams. Learn how cybercriminals steal personal data and credit card info.
Discover how iOS 26's new Adaptive Power feature automatically extends iPhone battery life by learning your usage patterns and adjusting performance intelligently.
New TikTok malware campaign tricks users into running PowerShell commands that download Aura Stealer, which steals credentials and authentication tokens.
Gaia Family offers fixed upfront pricing for IVF cycles with unlimited embryo transfers and financial protection, partnering with over 100 U.S. fertility clinics.
The Jetsons Act aims to position Pennsylvania as a leader in advanced air mobility by establishing regulations for hybrid ground-air vehicles.
Fake Geek Squad invoice emails are targeting users with convincing charges and urgent phone numbers to steal personal information and money.
Fox News Digital's artificial intelligence newsletter digs into a robot in Russia that faceplanted, George Clooney's alarm and OpenAI's rivalry with the New York Times.
Major data breach at Conduent exposes personal information of 10+ million people. Government contractor hit by cyberattack affecting Medicaid, child support systems.
Texas startup Janta Power raises $5.5M for innovative vertical solar towers that generate 50% more energy than traditional panels while using just one-third the land.
NASA's twin ESCAPADE spacecraft launched aboard Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket Thursday afternoon from Cape Canaveral, beginning their journey to Mars with arrival expected in 2027.
Learn how to set email reminders on iPhone and Android so you never forget to reply again. Simple built-in features help you stay organized and on top of messages.
Discover how Apple's passkeys revolutionize Mac security by replacing vulnerable passwords with biometric authentication and encryption for ultimate protection.
New survey reveals 78% of parents fear AI scams targeting their kids, yet nearly half haven't discussed these threats. Learn why this dangerous gap exists.
Chrome now autofills passport and driver's license info automatically. Google's latest browser update adds official document support with encryption and user control.
Scammers impersonate Department of Veterans Affairs employees claiming veterans owe money, but real VA communications only direct to VA.gov or official channels.
The AltoVolo Sigma hybrid-electric aircraft flies 500 miles at 220 mph while operating 80% quieter than helicopters, featuring safety systems and compact design.
Google search scam alert: fake customer service numbers can give scammers remote control of your phone. Learn how to spot these traps and protect yourself.
Electric vehicles overtake gas cars in total CO2 savings after just two years of driving, with emissions benefits growing over time as power grids get cleaner.
Louvre Museum reportedly used "Louvre" as password for surveillance system during $100M jewel heist. Learn how weak passwords put even famous institutions at risk.
Bipartisan AI jobs bill from Sens. Hawley and Warner would require companies to report AI-related layoffs and hiring to Department of Labor quarterly.
Joe A. from Shelton, Connecticut, lost $228,000 to a ZAP Solutions cryptocurrency investment scam after his divorce, highlighting rising online fraud.
AI-powered autonomous trucks from Waabi and Volvo target U.S. freight driver shortage with Level 4 self-driving technology and NVIDIA computing platform integration.
Survive flight disruptions with expert travel tips: Book early morning flights, download airline apps and know your refund rights during service cuts.

Passion and Poetry, and Life

Ironically, the passion that can neutralize the repulsion for difficulties... Read More

The Treasure of Catalina Huanca (In English and Spanish)

Note: written after seeing the little adobe 16th century church... Read More

Shaking out the Rugs [Following the Poet]

Let's follow the poet to his Hell and heaven! Count... Read More

Growing

Growing hurts sometimes; saying goodbye to friends, ... Read More

A Hundred and Fifty Dead [Korean War--l952]

There I sat, ninety-five degree weatherOutside; the bookstore caf?, was... Read More

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

Footprints to Mantaro Valley (English version)In what retreat art hid?-Where... Read More

To My Friend, With Love

All is still; all quiet; The world seems to... Read More

The Art of Receiving Poetic Critique

You can show your poem to your mom, your spouse,... Read More

In Poetry: Meaning of Words [And ...Rocket-belt]

In Poetry: Meaning of WordsWhen I write poetry, I check... Read More

Four Poems: Grendels Nature...the Racetrack...Counting days...[Now in English and Spanish]

English Version1) Grendel's DivorceYou must know that I do not... Read More

A Ship to Remember

Hammers. Timbers. Iron. Steel.They're laying down a mighty keel.As ant-like... Read More

Poetry in a Nutshell

Poetry is more than just rhyming and prose that is... Read More

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

What Hides behind the Minute?What hides behind the minute? It... Read More

Ocean Heal Me

Ocean Heal MeOcean heal my wounds Let your waves curl... Read More

Two Poems and an Analysis [?Witness,? & ?An Old Love?]

Two Poems and an Analysis ['Witness,' & 'An Old Love']WitnessMy... Read More

How to Write Bad Poetry

"All bad poetry springs from genuine feeling."--Oscar WildePeople write poetry... Read More

Eds Poem

Ed Gallagher Dec. 11, 1907 - Sept. 5, 2004This poem... Read More

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

"To My Dear and Loving Husband" was written by America's... Read More

Looking Out the Rear Window

The funeral rite concluded With the pastor shaking hands, Offering... Read More

Sleep, Dreams, and a Poem

The Incubus' Flash-lightHe looked inside my head And found a... Read More

Ballade of an Inca King

Ah! Leave the gold, wealth and landSays the Inca King?;... Read More

The Time Has Come and Buzzing

Most of my poems are written late at night, often,... Read More

The Dead God of Copan (in English and Spanish)

English VersionAnd the Death God said: "Let it rise to... Read More

Preserving Dignity

No one should have to beg or crawl before humanity.... Read More

Uamaks Aquatic [suspense: now in Spanish and English]

Delicately, my mind was selecting a muffled tune, out of... Read More

cleaning lady near Arlington Heights ..