Two Poems on Huancayo, Peru (from the book "The Road to Unishcoto")

Intense Sunset over Huancayo



Why did I smile to-day?
No heart will tell,
No response from heaven or hell.
“Heart!” I say, “Here I am—
Alive and alone, —say,
Wherefore did I smile?”
My fancy is to the mountains—
The colors of: white, orange and red, it
Spreads its bliss’s along
Its rim—as I watch the sunset
Fading over Huancayo.

Fame, beauty and verse, are
Intense indeed, in this
Evening’s sunset!...


Note: 10-4-2006, #1494






Godfather of the Hair


There’s an old tradition
Called: Godfather
Of the cut hair…

I really didn’t believe it,
Until I was asked
To be a Godfather!

“What are my duties?” I asked,
Dreamily—
(Gazing, gawking on, dumfounded).

“Oh, to cut a lock of hair:
Here and there,” so they said…
(“from the child’s head…”).

((I wondered what then?))


I learned in Huancayo,
There are Godfathers
—for most any and everything;

I get the feeling,
The more Godfathers
The more spoiled the Child gets…,

The child
Even asks for them nowadays
(at any old age).




Note: #1498 (11:43 PM). Inspired by Alfonso, a cab driver in Huancayo, and his grandson; being an American, or half Peruvian, since I am Married to one, some of these Wanka traditions are unusual to me (as with the Godfather of the Hair), but it is not my intentions to make fun of them, but to have fun with some of them, as I learn and enjoy the culture and customs of Peru, and the Mantaro Valley in particular.












—Periódico (9-18-2006): “Primicia”

“…Dennis Siluk, North American poet…fell in love with the Mantaro Valley…he writes in his works…. The landscape, the customs of the city…the food of the city (…all seems to come from an inspiration he draws out of the, and is captivate by, this region).
‘Huancayo is a modern city that keeps its traditions…and its colorful fair (Sunday market))…I hope it does not change…”’

—(Editor: Mr. Nilo Calero Perez)



Siluk was awarded Poet Laureaate of San Jeronimo, Peru (2005), and the Cross of the City, in 2006. Also, Los Andes University acknowledged Dennis’ contribution to the culture of the Mantaro Valley. In addition, Mayor Jesus Chipana Hurtado asked Dennis to write a poem for the Inauguration of the seventy-five foot statue of the Virgin Mary, for the city of—Concepcion. Recently, Dennis was a guest and judge at the Institucion Education Privada “Independencia” for the school’s poetry contest.

“The Road to Unishcoto,” is about a Wanka warrior (his last battle along the Rio Mantaro). Also there are poems on Huancayo, Sapallanga, and Concepcion, all Andean cities. Here again we see the culture, beauty and customs of the region flourish in Dennis’ poetry; along with two commentaries on poetry.