Romanian Monthly Kukai, December 2015

Theme: St Ignatius’ Day, name given to the day of December 20th, when Romanian peasants sacrifice their pigs for the winter holidays feasts.

 

Special Prize Romanian Monthly Kukai December 2015

St Ignatius’ Day -

no trace of footsteps in the snow

towards the old sharpening stone

Daniela Lăcrămioara Capotă

The poem’s sobriety increases as St Ignatius’ Day is just an excuse for someone’s thoughts on seeing this day belonging to the past. The whole lively atmosphere of confusion and full of emotion related to the event depends on the participants to a profane ritual. The snow in the courtyard we are watching is no longer touched by any trace of footsteps, the tenants have long since disappeared and there is no one left to perpetuate the ancient tradition. The old sharpening stone used for cutting tools is left to get rusted pointlessly. Of course, the loved ones with their way of life are gone now, but the way the sadness of this loss is recorded is discreet and muffled. (Corneliu Traian Atanasiu)

First Place

St Ignatius’ Day -

sharpening the knives

mother- and daughter-in law

Violeta Urdă

Second Place

St Ignatius' time -

on the knife’s blade

bloody sunset

Dan Iulian

Third Place

St Ignatius' morning -

getting lost through the smoke

all the stars

Vasile Conioși-Mesteșanu

Fourth Place

St Ignatius’ Day -

covered in tears the book

"Three Little Pigs"

Mihail Buraga

Fifth Place

in the morning fog

a twinkle from the knife –

St Ignatius’ Day

Grigore Chitul

wiped furtively

off the frozen face

tears on St Ignatius’ Day

Gabriela Marcian

St Ignatius’ Day -

even dad’s hands

stained with blood

Letiția Iubu

Sixth Place

St Ignatius’ Eve -

only in granny’s yard

fresh snow

Gabriela Vlad