NEW HOPE INTERNATIONAL REVIEW

An independent small press poetry review

NHI independent review
O SUTA DE CATARGE/ONE HUNDRED MASTS
Micro-Anthology of Romanian Haiku
edited by Florin Vasiliu & Serban Codrin
Editura Haiku
c/o Vasili Moldovan
Str Birnova, Nr.8, 18l M110
Ap.9, Cod 051164
Bucharest
Romania
ISBN 973 97876 0 6
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This page last updated: 10th December 2007. 		O SUTA DE CATARGE/ONE HUNDRED MASTS

This anthology contains English translations of haiku produced by Romanian poets. The haiku are presented one to a page, and each page contains comments about the haiku. As stated in the introductory section, these comments are given:

Because the haiku included in the volume are of such quality as stimulates thought beyond the immediacy of the poem. The first to respond to this impulse were the anthologists themselves. The reader has a comment attached to each haiku, a first suggestion that will prompt re-reading, for a better reflection on some meaning or other that went unnoticed in the first perusal.
This type of anthology is always useful for teaching purposes as it can stimulate discussion. The comments are written by Florin Vasiliu and Serban Codrin. Florin Vasiliu is a Chemical Engineer. He is a founding member of The Romanian Haiku Society. Serban Codrin is a founding member of The Professional Writers' Association in Romania. As well as writing poetry, Serban Codrin has published 8 works of fiction.

This is an interesting book that gives a cross-section of Romainian haiku. The haiku by Marian Bodea is a particular favourite of mine:

	The dead parakeet — 
	but how much alive are still
	its vivid colors
It is interesting to note the transposition in the second line of the translation. This does not detract from its impact. Another favourite is by Ion Gabudean:
	A night in winter:
	how heavy the snowflakes
	on the old man's shoulders . . .

reviewer: Doreen King.