Grandpas House & From Iraq with Love [Two Poems]

Grandpa's House
[The ole Real House]

The house needed painting
Sun-blistered and flaking
Grandpa started to have us
Boys-Mike and I- start
Doing some scraping-

While he, pealed off the ole
Paint, and started painting?

Just a humble wooden house
With several rooms, but
Strong enough to keep the
Winds and winter snows out,
How he loved that ole house!...

An' his well-kept yard, which
Contained lilac bushes, and
Big shade trees; where birds
And squirrels lived-season
To season, scattered on?

Branches-they looked like
Play things (back in the 50s)

#807 8/18/05

Note by the author: "We all grew up together I suppose you might say, my brother and I, mom and grandpa, a few aunts in the beginning, all living in an extended family environment; that is how it felt anyhow. Although the house belonged to my grandfather, we all lived together; now it all seems so long ago, and what pops out of my mind is: I never did take a liking to painting houses after painting his a few times."

From Iraq with Love

American's most often are
Certain of what they want
From the world-
In a large measure,
In charge:
Gold, machinery,
Symbols
It's what it's all
About?

Shaving
Showering
Outfitting
Medications
Cosmetics
It's what it's all
About?

Breakfast
Banquettes
TV's and couches
Adolescents
Engagement rings-
Thanksgiving's:
Blessings, gratitude
(no secrets here)
It's what it's all About?

Family
Snow and rain
North by a highway
Dirt and mud
Children
Classmates
Cookies
Just beautiful
Things-freedom
To say and be
That's the way it was meant
To be:

An' then,
Along came a bullet:
No mercy
Your dead!...
Nothing more said.

#806 8/16/05

Note by the author: "I am not for or against the war in Iraq, for the most part; although I do believe America did do a great service for the world, and the Iraqi people by bringing down Saddam, a world demonic beast, from his throne, and perhaps it was worth the price, then and now; we are all counting the price right this minute, are we not [?] But is it worth it to continue? A pale question at best, now facing everyone in the country. There are wiser men than I up in Washington D.C., figuring these things out, and surely we do not know everything of what is in the background. But being in a war, I do know this: we won the war, it should be over, and we are not responsible to rebuild their whole country at the cost of taxing the American citizen to death: financially, resources, and our youth wise. I do pray that President Bush will bring our boys home. Enough is enough."

See Dennis Siluk's new book of poems "Spell of the Andes," at any book dealer: http://www.amazon.com or http://www.bn.com

In The News:


Celebrities read poetry in Tulaan sa Tren project
Inquirer.net, Philippines - 4 hours ago
It will be a different sort of experience as the National Book Development Board (NBDB) and the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) bring Philippine poetry ...

Poetry contest winners named
WalesOnline, United Kingdom - 1 hour ago
EMILY HINSHELWOOD has been announced winner of the Welsh Poetry Competition 2008 for her poem Visually-speaking. Second prize went to Clare Ferguson-Walker ...

Release from prison inspires poetry
Inquirer.net, Philippines - 7 hours ago
He said he learned to convey his angst and depression through poetry while inside the jail. It also helped him keep his sanity, he added. ...

Institute for Middle East Understanding

Crossing the bridge: Poetry, hip-hop, and the Palestinian experience
Institute for Middle East Understanding, CA - 16 hours ago
Poets For Palestine continues this vision as a unique collection of poetry, spoken word, hip-hop and art devoted to Palestine. Unifying a diverse range of ...

New emcee brings humor, passion to Cedar Falls poetry scene
Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier, IA - 1 hour ago
(RICK CHASE/COURIER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) This week, a familiar face in the Cedar Falls poetry scene will be seen in a new light. Adam Weightman, a University ...

Poetry peepshow
Times and Transcript, Canada - 2 hours ago
TORONTO - The 16th annual Junction Arts Festival is offering what it calls a "Poetry Peepshow," giving participants the chance to "peer into an open window ...

Events: Alley Cat Players to present poetry-inspired 'Becoming the ...
Tampabay.com, FL - 2 hours ago
The Alley Cat Players will present Becoming the Villainess, a performance art piece based on the pop culture-meets-myth poetry of Jeannine Hall Gailey, ...

Washington Post

Clinton's Speech: Pragmatism, Not Poetry
Newsweek - Aug 27, 2008
But last night, Clinton delivered the savviest argument in her arsenal. That it played like a poetry was just icing on the cake.
Video: Clinton exposes doubts over Obama RussiaToday
Clinton Delivers for Obama TIME
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Jalib’s poetry inspiration for youngsters
The News - International, Pakistan - 13 hours ago
The youth of the country should take inspiration from the poetry of Habib Jalib, Ahmed Faraz and Faiz Ahmed Faiz in order to develop leadership qualities in ...

Sentiments of Knaresborough told in the poetry of a charming man
Knaresborough Today, UK - 8 hours ago
By Staff Copy THESE sentiments, expressed in poetry, are the extolled perception of the Knaresborough of 1942 by one of its many distinguished sons who ...
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