Theme: using mulberry, summer kigo
Special Prize
dinner under the wild strawberries –
riddled with mulberries
the moon in bowls
Rodica P. Calota
First Place
the old white mulberry tree -
the starlings darkening
even its shadow
Vasile Conioși-Mesteșanu
Second Place
dinner under the wild strawberries –
riddled with mulberries
the moon in bowls
Rodica P. Calota
Third Place
back home -
sweeter than ever
the black mulberries
Argentina Stanciu
Fourth Place
mulberries on the sidewalk –
as sweet as ever the traces
of childhood
Grigore Chitul
Fifth Place
mulberry season -
washing non-stop
mother’s hands
Valeria Tamaș
Sixth Place
alone in the night -
the silk road goes over
a mulberry
Mihai Mateiciuc
ripe mulberries -
a glimpse of her breast through
the broken lace
Bea Hurmuz
Thursday, July 28, 2016
Wednesday, July 13, 2016
Results of the National Tanka Contest, First Edition, 2016
In the first edition of this contest, a special event in Romania, 32 authors took part.
The jury, formed by
Șerban Codrin,
Magdalena Dale and
Laura Văceanu,
has decided:
First Place
Ana Drobot, Bucharest
empty windows
allowing the sky
among the ruins –
I am looking for shades of blue
to fill your absence
Second Place
Grigore Chitul
the last ray
gliding beneath the eyelids
like a tear –
the sunset’s shadows
slowly fill the silence
Third Place
Ana Urma
climbing the path
after the days and nights
of waiting -
in the irises filled with dew
a beam of light
Mention 1
Maria Tirenescu
white petals
scattered in the wind
fill the park today –
you promised that you would come
but I am all alone
Mention 2
Liliana Negoi
in the old shell
you can still hear
the sound of the sea -
otherwise, the entire house
is so quiet...
The jury, formed by
Șerban Codrin,
Magdalena Dale and
Laura Văceanu,
has decided:
First Place
Ana Drobot, Bucharest
empty windows
allowing the sky
among the ruins –
I am looking for shades of blue
to fill your absence
Second Place
Grigore Chitul
the last ray
gliding beneath the eyelids
like a tear –
the sunset’s shadows
slowly fill the silence
Third Place
Ana Urma
climbing the path
after the days and nights
of waiting -
in the irises filled with dew
a beam of light
Mention 1
Maria Tirenescu
white petals
scattered in the wind
fill the park today –
you promised that you would come
but I am all alone
Mention 2
Liliana Negoi
in the old shell
you can still hear
the sound of the sea -
otherwise, the entire house
is so quiet...
Tuesday, July 12, 2016
Weekly Romanian Kukai no. 451
First Place – Cezar-Florin Ciobîcă
in jail -
on a blank piece of paper the first
free verse
Second Place – Costin Iliescu
the ladder of the tower -
the old guard climbs
the steps in his daydreams
Third Place – Cezar-Florin Ciobîcă
big heat -
a grasshopper under the morning
glory
Mention – Rodica P. Calotă
spirogyra –
suddenly the rowers bring
the sky to the shore
Mention – Luminița Ignea
convalescence -
a blade of dandelion
rises out of the asphalt
Mention – Petru-Ioan Gârda
nursing home -
a butterfly struggling
on the closed window
Mention – Grigore Chitul
rain shower in the park -
the perfume of locust trees
left aside
Mention – Cezar-Florin Ciobîcă
birthplace -
the old lime tree spraying its scent
over the memories
in jail -
on a blank piece of paper the first
free verse
Second Place – Costin Iliescu
the ladder of the tower -
the old guard climbs
the steps in his daydreams
Third Place – Cezar-Florin Ciobîcă
big heat -
a grasshopper under the morning
glory
Mention – Rodica P. Calotă
spirogyra –
suddenly the rowers bring
the sky to the shore
Mention – Luminița Ignea
convalescence -
a blade of dandelion
rises out of the asphalt
Mention – Petru-Ioan Gârda
nursing home -
a butterfly struggling
on the closed window
Mention – Grigore Chitul
rain shower in the park -
the perfume of locust trees
left aside
Mention – Cezar-Florin Ciobîcă
birthplace -
the old lime tree spraying its scent
over the memories
Thursday, July 7, 2016
Weekly Romanian Kukai no. 450
First Place – Petru Ioan Gârda
grandma’s house –
only the morning glory
hanging on the clothes line
Second Place – Cezar Ciobîcă
after the storm -
lighted by pollen
the linden tree’s shadow
Second Place – Petru-Ioan Gârda
wedding guests on the train -
this time the money
is gathered by the godfather
Second Place – Constantin Iliescu
coffee grinder -
the crank scrolling
life’s movie
Third Place – Violeta Urdă
low quality oriental song in the fields -
hiding in a bag
a cricket
Mention – Marcela Ignătescu
crying with hiccups -
the waves swinging
the girl’s doll
Mention – Ana Urma
the hovel in the field -
no longer fitting in the windows
so much sun
Mention – Ion Cuzuioc
mowing the grass -
towards the sunset only the stars
on dad’s shirt
Mention – Corneliu Traian Atanasiu
full summer -
fiercer the burned leaf’s
smell under the acacias
grandma’s house –
only the morning glory
hanging on the clothes line
Second Place – Cezar Ciobîcă
after the storm -
lighted by pollen
the linden tree’s shadow
Second Place – Petru-Ioan Gârda
wedding guests on the train -
this time the money
is gathered by the godfather
Second Place – Constantin Iliescu
coffee grinder -
the crank scrolling
life’s movie
Third Place – Violeta Urdă
low quality oriental song in the fields -
hiding in a bag
a cricket
Mention – Marcela Ignătescu
crying with hiccups -
the waves swinging
the girl’s doll
Mention – Ana Urma
the hovel in the field -
no longer fitting in the windows
so much sun
Mention – Ion Cuzuioc
mowing the grass -
towards the sunset only the stars
on dad’s shirt
Mention – Corneliu Traian Atanasiu
full summer -
fiercer the burned leaf’s
smell under the acacias
Thursday, June 30, 2016
Comments on the Poems in Weekly Romanian Kukai no. 449
A few comments on the poems that were awarded prizes.
serving tea -
in the chipped cup
full moon
It is understandable that a custom is even more durable when the object used is older. A small chipped cup is preferred for its long-time fidelity and the stigma it wears from the harm it got while doing its job. The Japanese name for this uniformity and lack of symmetry combined with the mark of time is sabishia. After all, what is important is that, despite its chipping, the cup can reflect, as a wound, but equally faithfylly, the roundness of the moon.
a white butterfly
sitting on my chest -
I can barely breathe
No, this is not about a pressing weight. It is just the fear of not chasing him away. It is about mastering your emotion.
lullaby -
in the mother's rocking chair
a bouquet of poppies
Lullaby, a swing and a rocking chair. Are these not the same thing? Eloquent in their silence, the poppies sing a lullaby. Perhaps the same one as the mother does and that the son’s gesture recovers and pays it homage. The swinging is a kind of relief.
sun’s ascent -
bent towards the ground
the heavy spikes
The tension is balanced. The spikes bend not just as a sign of homage to the sun but also as a sign that they cherish its gold.
scorching sun -
in the fountain’s bucket
the cool day
The cool day and the scorching heat compensate for one another. And today they live in harmony.
orchards in flames -
everything started from
a ripe cherry
The visual miracle proves to be one of the plants’ development. Of life that is not repressed.
fatigue -
on the floral dress
a live butterfly
We do not know if what is mentioned in the first part concerns the status of the artificial flowers, of the accidental fatigue of the butterfly or the temptation of the dress (for any observer that gives his philanderer’s attention).
deep water -
the whirl slowly absorbs
moonlight
Allegorically speaking, the poem captures the meditation, the silent whirlwind of thoughts that slowly sip the moonlight and store it in deep inside the soul. The mirroring that steals from the depths.
only a brief respite -
over the scythes’ shine
grasshoppers’ jumps
The picture is wonderful. The respite of the workers unleashes the locusts. Which are there at the right place, just in front of the right mirror.
alone on the platform -
shaking off its flowers
a bitter cherry
What would loneliness be like without these almost reproving cues? The dismantled platform, the cherry tree in bloom with nobody to witness this, the bitterness of words.
a crippled man admiring
the arms of a tree -
it too has a stump!
Empathy. Without discrimination and boundaries.
(Corneliu Traian Atanasiu)
serving tea -
in the chipped cup
full moon
It is understandable that a custom is even more durable when the object used is older. A small chipped cup is preferred for its long-time fidelity and the stigma it wears from the harm it got while doing its job. The Japanese name for this uniformity and lack of symmetry combined with the mark of time is sabishia. After all, what is important is that, despite its chipping, the cup can reflect, as a wound, but equally faithfylly, the roundness of the moon.
a white butterfly
sitting on my chest -
I can barely breathe
No, this is not about a pressing weight. It is just the fear of not chasing him away. It is about mastering your emotion.
lullaby -
in the mother's rocking chair
a bouquet of poppies
Lullaby, a swing and a rocking chair. Are these not the same thing? Eloquent in their silence, the poppies sing a lullaby. Perhaps the same one as the mother does and that the son’s gesture recovers and pays it homage. The swinging is a kind of relief.
sun’s ascent -
bent towards the ground
the heavy spikes
The tension is balanced. The spikes bend not just as a sign of homage to the sun but also as a sign that they cherish its gold.
scorching sun -
in the fountain’s bucket
the cool day
The cool day and the scorching heat compensate for one another. And today they live in harmony.
orchards in flames -
everything started from
a ripe cherry
The visual miracle proves to be one of the plants’ development. Of life that is not repressed.
fatigue -
on the floral dress
a live butterfly
We do not know if what is mentioned in the first part concerns the status of the artificial flowers, of the accidental fatigue of the butterfly or the temptation of the dress (for any observer that gives his philanderer’s attention).
deep water -
the whirl slowly absorbs
moonlight
Allegorically speaking, the poem captures the meditation, the silent whirlwind of thoughts that slowly sip the moonlight and store it in deep inside the soul. The mirroring that steals from the depths.
only a brief respite -
over the scythes’ shine
grasshoppers’ jumps
The picture is wonderful. The respite of the workers unleashes the locusts. Which are there at the right place, just in front of the right mirror.
alone on the platform -
shaking off its flowers
a bitter cherry
What would loneliness be like without these almost reproving cues? The dismantled platform, the cherry tree in bloom with nobody to witness this, the bitterness of words.
a crippled man admiring
the arms of a tree -
it too has a stump!
Empathy. Without discrimination and boundaries.
(Corneliu Traian Atanasiu)
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Weekly Romanian Kukai no. 449
First Place – Valeria Tamaș
serving tea -
in the chipped cup
full moon
Second Place – Petru-Ioan Gârda
a white butterfly
sitting on my chest -
I can barely breathe
Third Place – Violeta Urdă
lullaby -
in the mother's rocking chair
a bouquet of poppies
Third Place – Argentina Stanciu
sun’s ascent -
bent towards the ground
the heavy spikes
Third Place – Elena Victoria Glodean
scorching sun -
in the fountain’s bucket
the cool day
Mention – Rodica Calotă
orchards in flames -
everything started from
a ripe cherry
Mention – Violeta Urdă
fatigue -
on the floral dress
a live butterfly
Mention – Iliescu Constantin
deep water -
the whirl slowly absorbs
moonlight
Mention – Elena Victoria Glodean
only a brief respite -
over the scythes’ shine
grasshoppers’ jumps
Mention – Ana Urma
alone on the platform -
shaking off its flowers
a bitter cherry
Mention – Vasilica Grigoraș
a crippled man admiring
the arms of a tree -
it too has a stump!
serving tea -
in the chipped cup
full moon
Second Place – Petru-Ioan Gârda
a white butterfly
sitting on my chest -
I can barely breathe
Third Place – Violeta Urdă
lullaby -
in the mother's rocking chair
a bouquet of poppies
Third Place – Argentina Stanciu
sun’s ascent -
bent towards the ground
the heavy spikes
Third Place – Elena Victoria Glodean
scorching sun -
in the fountain’s bucket
the cool day
Mention – Rodica Calotă
orchards in flames -
everything started from
a ripe cherry
Mention – Violeta Urdă
fatigue -
on the floral dress
a live butterfly
Mention – Iliescu Constantin
deep water -
the whirl slowly absorbs
moonlight
Mention – Elena Victoria Glodean
only a brief respite -
over the scythes’ shine
grasshoppers’ jumps
Mention – Ana Urma
alone on the platform -
shaking off its flowers
a bitter cherry
Mention – Vasilica Grigoraș
a crippled man admiring
the arms of a tree -
it too has a stump!
Friday, June 24, 2016
Bitter coffee
bitter coffee –
all newspapers
only about war
Cezar Florin Ciobica
This time I propose you a poem which is very simple to decipher, to understand, to feel. The coffee is naturally bitter. Some prefer to drink it unsweetened, others fix it with some sugar. Coffee, even the bitter one, is a habit for those who have time to enjoy it on a leisurely morning browsing through the newspapers. Pairing the two is a symbol of comfort, of life without hardships, worries and troubles. Whether or not it is part of our usual routine, we know this experience at least from novels and movies. It is part of what Luis Buñuel ironically called the discreet charm of the bourgeoisie.
The bitterness of the coffee is an agreeable one as long as the stories are more or less harmless. But when you mix the coffee only with news about the war, the habit is missed. The bitter coffee is no longer compensated by the sentimentality of the news. The bourgeois habit is undermined and compromised without anyone intending this, by the human pain and sorrow. And especially by a certain panic.
The words, as shown, are accompanied by an aura of connotations. And, the more their joining is brief, the more vibrant prove their centrifugal tendencies to evoke urgently the most varied contexts.
(Corneliu Traian Atanasiu)
all newspapers
only about war
Cezar Florin Ciobica
This time I propose you a poem which is very simple to decipher, to understand, to feel. The coffee is naturally bitter. Some prefer to drink it unsweetened, others fix it with some sugar. Coffee, even the bitter one, is a habit for those who have time to enjoy it on a leisurely morning browsing through the newspapers. Pairing the two is a symbol of comfort, of life without hardships, worries and troubles. Whether or not it is part of our usual routine, we know this experience at least from novels and movies. It is part of what Luis Buñuel ironically called the discreet charm of the bourgeoisie.
The bitterness of the coffee is an agreeable one as long as the stories are more or less harmless. But when you mix the coffee only with news about the war, the habit is missed. The bitter coffee is no longer compensated by the sentimentality of the news. The bourgeois habit is undermined and compromised without anyone intending this, by the human pain and sorrow. And especially by a certain panic.
The words, as shown, are accompanied by an aura of connotations. And, the more their joining is brief, the more vibrant prove their centrifugal tendencies to evoke urgently the most varied contexts.
(Corneliu Traian Atanasiu)
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