ROMANIAN ASTROHAIGA

Text by Andrei Dorian Gheorghe
Design by Florin Stancu

*

One of the most beautiful memories in my life was
the co-operation with the British haiku blogspot project,
an extraordinary initiative with international participation,
created in 2006.

I was not a member of that blog,
but my haikus in combination with photos by Romanian sky lovers
were posted by two dear English friends and great haiku authors,
Gerald England (the first 8) and Mandy Smith (the 9th and the 10th).

*

Our 1^st haiga,
composed of my haiku on a photo by Gabriel Ivanescu
(representing the Press Palace in Bucharest
as seen from the Herastrau Park),
was published in 20 February 2006, in Ukku Spring Haiku.

*

Our 2^nd haiga,
composed of my haiku on a photo by Gabriel Ivanescu
(representing a sunset in the Dobrogea province),
was published in 6 August 2006 in Summer Haiku.

*

Our 3^rd haiga,
composed of my haiku on an atmospheric photo by Gabriel Ivanescu,
was published in 4 September 2006 in Falling Leaves.

*

Our 4^th haiga,
composed of my haiku on an autumn photo by Calin Niculae,
was published in 16 October 2006 also in Falling Leaves.

*

Our 5^th haiga,
composed of my haiku on a winter photo by Gabriel Ivanescu
was published in 23 December 2006 in Winter Haiku 2006.

*

Our 6^th haiga,
composed of my haiku on a foggy view photo by Calin Niculae
(with the Sun over Bucharest),
was published in 31 December 2006 also in Winter Haiku 2006.

*

Our 7^th haiga,
composed of my haiku on an exceptional astrophotography by Alex(andru) Conu
(representing Comet McNaught in daylight in January 2007),
was published in 24 January 2007 in Winter Haiku 2006.

*

Our 8^th haiga,
composed of my haiku on a photo by Gabriel Ivanescu
(representing the Bucegi Mountains),
was published in 17 March 2007 in Spring Haiku 2007.

*

Our 9^th haiga,
composed of my haiku on a photo by Gabriel Ivanescu
(representing the shore of the Black Sea),
was published in 21 October 2007 in Autumn Haiku 2007.

*

Our 10^th haiga,
composed of my haiku on a winter photo by Gabriel Ivanescu,
was published in 11 February 2008 in Winter Haiku 2007.

*

Unfortunately, a terrible piece of news appeared in November 2009:
Mandy Smith passed away!

So a few months after the tragical event
we dedicated an astrohaiga to this remarkable lady,
composed of my haiku on a landscape astrophotography
(made in the Fagaras Mountains)
by the president of SARM, Valentin Grigore,
which was published by Gerald England in June 2010
in the Spring 2010 section of The Four Seasons of Haiku.