Cinquains
Citadel Hill in Deva, Romania
The
hill
Turning pale green
Not as fast as before
Looking out, as if still fearing
The snow.
Workers
Tear down the rink
(Ice no longer keeps up)
The hill rewards them with scents
of spring.
Swallows
Sighted at dawn
How late they’ve been, this year!
They feel safe in the fortress’
Old walls.
Deva is
dominated by the Citadel Hill, a protected
nature reserve because of
its rare floral species and the presence of the
horned adder. Perched on
the top of the hill are the ruins of the
Citadel built in the 13th
century.
You can see
photos of the Citadel Hill in Deva, Romania here:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Deva_Citadel
Western Ci***
Ode
to the Anonymous Thematic Stamp Collector*
Based
on Simon &Garfunkel's “Sound of Silence”
Lots of
stories you could tell.
But, since you chose to tell them well
So from all the wonders beaming
From the dreams that the world’s dreaming
Just a few you had to chose and to their tales
Link your life
Spreading truth and beauty.
From then on, your nights were spent,
On your tiny treasures bent
Paper rectangles of glory
Building up to tell a story
Every detail insufficient by itself
On the shelf
Albums slowly gathered.
It took structure, it took pain.
Careful! For sweat should not stain
All those perfins** and color proofs
Nor should you call out from the roofs:
That you finally received that rarity
(vanity-
Or “a joy forever”?)
Finally, your story told,
‘Twas time for it to go for gold,
Albums turned into exhibits
Traveled the world without limits
But you didn’t go with them and you just smiled
Like a child:
You were in the story!
The gold medals you received
By the world were not perceived
No parades in an open bus
No official handshakes, no fuss
To your neighbors you were just “the crazy guy
With the stamps”
But you smiled with wisdom.
You knew just how your life would be:
“Be unseen so you can see”
Touched by stars and touched by people
By a mayfly and a steeple
You were awed by the Creation, truth and art
As a part
Of the bigger story.
Now they’ll lead you to your grave
They say you lived as in a cave.
Yet so many have seen your stamps
And for many they have been lamps
Both redeeming and pointing to the wondrous things
Life still brings
And you’ve been your story!
*For a selection
of thematic philately exhibits, some having won
international prizes, see
http://www.japhila.cz/hof/index_the.htm
**A stamp that has letters perforated across it, to prevent
theft. Adds value to an exhibit. (CM)
***Western
Ci form, see
Sketchbook:
September 15, 2007: Vol. 2, No. 3: Issue 6
Cristian Mocanu, RO—Ekphrastic
Sonnet On Brāncuşi’s Sculpture
