The Moquegua Maid (A New Unpublished Poem From Huancayo)
The Moquegua Maid
She hangs his cloths up, one by one
Clothespins tight on metal cloth lines,
The Moquegua Maid of Huancayo
(Under the rays of the winter sun
(between four houses and a yard).
It’s mid afternoon, she’s quiet, says “Hello”
Straight eyes on what’s she’s got to do,
Tenderness in her moods—
My intuition—like her,
There are but a few…!
Note: Good maids are hard to come by, even in Peru, and when you find one, it is best to keep her, lest you find your garage being rented out by your maid to a resident down the street, or your water bill ten times the proper amount because she is washing the neighborhood laundry (at your expense) because she wants a business on the side, or perhaps she will sell your books, when you are out fishing. Some even have sold their employers houses when gone for long periods of time. All these things have happened to me (except the last, which almost happened), so as you may expect, finding a good maid is an act of God. No: 1872 6-9-2007. Dedicated to Doris of Huancayo.
Love and Butterflies
[For Elsie T. Siluk my mother]
She fought a good battle
The last of many—
Until there was nothing left
Where once, there was plenty.
And so, poised and dignified
She said, ‘farewell,’ in her own way
And left behind
A grand old time
Room for another
Love and Butterflies…
That was my mother.
—By Dennis L. Siluk © 7/03
See Dennis’ web site: dennissiluk.tripod.com dennissiluk.tripod.com
