indexeng

Verica Živković, Serbia

An Aesthetic Springing out of Impressive Contents

Milenko D. Ćirović Ljutički, U zagrljaju sjenki/The Embrace of Shadows (Haiku udruženje Srbije i Crne Gore, 2007). ISBN 978-86-84813-10-9; 72 pp; 21 x 13 cm; softbound; art design: Dušan M. Ćirović; translation into English: Saša Važić; price: EU10.00 (orders: Milenko D. Ćirović Ljutički, Pante Tutundžića 7/2, 11077 Belgrade, Serbia).

The latest haiku collection, The Embrace of Shadows, by Milenko D. Ćirović Ljutički is based on immediate sensual sensations, skillfully incorporated into the core of poetic images.

In his haiku, the poet constantly plays with concrete occurrences and things inseparably connected with his emotional and metaphysical experience. His haiku springs up out of natural layers, expressing a high level of reflexive meanings – that is where his originality is to be found.

This collection reflects a distinct improvement, both in terms of form and subject matter, in comparison with Ćirović's earlier haiku collection.

The book consists of sequences in which the central place belongs to phenomena viewed in different variations: shadows, scents, light and father – making motive-thematic connections. Their primary meaning is suggested by the titles themselves.

By inventive description beyond which a higher aesthetic reality is hidden, the following haiku stands out:

thunder –
a flickering candle flame
awakens the shadows

The image is convincing; the thunder intensifies the flicker of a candle flame unveiling shadows. The shadows come from light. This natural phenomenon incorporates some philosophical viewpoints. Light is a spring of life, and the flicker of shadows, its fickle side. The whole poetical body is dominated by anxiety and suspicion.

The effectiveness of scent, transposed into a metaphysical standpoint, culminates in this haiku:

windborne
the smell of grilled peppers –
an old woman's smile

An old woman's smile is directly connected with the scent of grilled peppers and approaching autumn. Grief for youth is expressed through the appearance of grilled peppers.
A wonderful comparison!

With its exceptional immediacy and simplicity, this haiku is fascinating:

in the tiny eyes
of a surprised hedgehog
the moonglow

The sight is exceptionally striking. The moonglow in a hedgehog's eyes represents the world of existing phenomena.

In this haiku:

haymaking season –
father's rusty scythe
under the eaves

mourning for his father who can no longer reap grain, is expressed with the effective images.

In his haiku Ćirović generally observes the classical haiku form of 5-7-5 syllables – that is a three-line form with properly arranged syllables (5-7- 5).

This haiku collection, The Embrace of Shadows, is one of the most important haiku accomplishments in Serbian haiku poetry and demands a courageous reader.

Translation: Saša Važić