indexeng

The Return of the Crane by Ion Marinescu is an interesting book because the poet has gained his literary experience in the circle of epigram writers. That is perhaps why the author of this book is preoccupied with life’s serious situations, even with dramatic ones, but, at the same time, with merry moments, often humorous, sometimes grotesque. We may say that in his poetry an eye laughs while the other cries. In his poetry of small dimensions, but often of great profundity, exotic motives specific for Nippon poetry coexist with Romanian specific topics.

Although a traditional writer inspired by Nippon poetry, Ioan Marinescu sometimes tries to be an innovator by choosing some topics as is scarecrow.

The Return of the Crane is a book in which he attempts to reach the perfection of the Japanese form. The English versions of his poems adhere to the classical rule of syllable count, that is 5-7-5.

His new poems are full of dramatic tones showing that he is a good expert on his natural environment and Romanian society. Specific for this haijin from Cluj is that when he feels he doesn’t make a full use of some topic, he continues to write about it as long as he feels it necessary. Also, his originality is in that he writes about certain topics, which are not often used by haiku poets, as is scarecrow. This well-known Romanian epigram writer, Ion, knows how to cheer us up with his haiku as well, even when they depict the most dramatic situations.

The shadow of a falcon –
This chicken chases it
Through the front yard

In my opinion, Ion’s best poems are those in which his words are permeated with self-directed irony as in the following poems:

Alone at the shore –
In the hook of a fishing rod
Caught another star

Another year elapses –
I resist the temptation
To go after it

We cannot but mention that Ioan Marinescu is present in some on-line publications, where he has been awarded several prizes as is the case with the following poems which are included in this book:

Late night
only lime fragrance
passes the street
(First prize in Romanian kukai competition – May 2008)

A skylark
with the first dew drops
clearing his throat
(Third prize in Romanian Kukai competition – June 2008)

Melon slice
Making fun of me
With all its stones
(Second prize Romanian Kukai competition – August 2008)

This wind undresses
The scarecrow in vain –
No spectators
(Second prize Romanian Kukai senryu competition – March-April 2008)

Scorching heat –
Just now I want to chat
With Jack Frost
(Third prize Romanian Kukai senryu competition – June-July 2008)

Rain of autumn –
In the old umbrella
A new hole just now
(First prize Romanian Kukai senryu competition – September-October 2008)