HOME | POLITICS | SPORTS | LIFE | SCI/TECH | OPEDS | HELPFUL TIPS
|
May 19, 2004 Lima, Peru: lots of folks ask me--knowing I have a home in Lima, and go there often, "Is it safe in Lima Peru, I heard of those terrorists [meaning the Shinning Path]." It is as safe as any city with 8-million people living in it. And let me add: the people love Americans, and the police protect them as if they were gold. I know, I had a shoe shine, and the guy charged me .33-cents too much, and the police saw it and ordered the guy to refund me money back. Thus, it cost me .66-cents for the shine: point made. As I was saying, the people treat you well, much better than they do in France, where I've been four times, or Chile, where I've been once, no twice, I assure you there will not be a third time either. The Peruvian, not only likes our money, since they adapted it, along with their currency, but they like our music, our cloths, our hamburgers, and our chicken: and the women like our men. And it is almost a ritual that each Peruvian must at least one time in their life, make it to America and see Disneyland, it is almost ritual like going to Mecca. I recently published, or had published, a poem in the book called "Sirens," on Peru, let me share it with you, and you may get a better idea of Peru, incidentally, the Shinning Path's leader is in the dog house, all caged up, so don't worry [unless he gets out that is]: 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' flat lingering city of lights Flat as a pancake, 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 Stretching, stretching 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, dot-streams of lit, 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, it's crowded, 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"! Note: Written October, 2003 ------------ About the author: Mr. Siluk is a world traveler, a lover of the mysteries around the world, and has visit many World Heritage Sites, the most recent being Easter Island and the Galapagos. His most recent book: "After Eve," and his 26th book thus far, can be seen on/at Barns and Nobel.com, Amazon.com, Walmart and several other sites. He spends his time between Lima, Peru and St. Paul, Minnesota, and is wroking on two more books: "Stay Down, Old Abram," and "Curse of the Abyss Worm," the second being a suspensful mystery. Visit http://dennissiluk.tripod.com Email: dlsiluk@msn.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ |
||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
