On Vaser

When I have time, I browse through old albums. Today, I saw a picture again and memories overwhelmed me...

I had finished the eighth grad. One day, my mother had proposed to accompany her to Făina, on Vaser Valley. She and a few friends had decided to go raspberry picking. I had agreed with one condition: that she does not set a norm for me to pick.

Mid August –
the steam train puffs
climbing the mountains

The narrow railway line passes very close to the river. The Vaser is sometimes lazy, other times it cascades down over rocks. But the steam train goes slowly.

The fir forest rustles. The first drops of rain fall. How will we pick raspberries?

We reach the last stop. A small canton and two wood cabins for those working in wood harvesting. While we eat, from the clouds, the sun shows up.

We climb the sunny hill. Until I am not full of eating, I won’t put any piece in the buckets. Then, I collect feverishly. But occasionally, I watch the fir forest on the front mountain and the warmth colours in which delight the trees near the narrow railroad.

At flagman’s instigation, we go to see the church. There, in the heart of the mountains, near the border with Ukraine, the forest workers wanted to have a place to put a candle, to pray, to have a private time in moments of loneliness. But the little church is closed.

We have to go down. The steam train leaves at 6 o’clock.

When going down, the train rushes. The sun sets before 8 o’clock.

Winding road –
over steep slopes
the evening descends

Traducerea Patricia Lidia

New Year's Concert

We are watching on TV, like every year, New Year's concert which is broadcast from Vienna.

First day of the year
with cloudless sky –
music of Vienna

The orchestra plays in the Musikverein Golden Hall, built in the baroque style, splendidly illuminated and adorned with beautiful floral arrangements, brought from San Remo. We see images from the Vienna palaces or around the former capital of the Habsburg Empire. A group of dancers move in the halls or palaces steps accompanied by the orchestra.

Memories go through my mind. I see my father, listening to the 1967th concert on the old speaker. I see my mother murmuring Voices of spring, the waltz composed by Strauss.

In the Golden Hall
the unofficial anthem of Vienna:
Blue Danube

The conductor, Daniel Barenboim, turns to the orchestra. He picks up the baton ... and quits. Turns to the public and makes a sign to listen in silence.

First notes
in Radetzky March –
implied looks

The spectators keep the clapping on the rhythm, harder or softer, as they are directed.

Last minutes of the concert. Memories come in march rhythm: dad beating with a pencil the rhythm in the table, on which he abandoned the crossword on which he was working, my sister marching around the living room table, our mother watching us dearly...

March ends
a burst of applause –
New Year concert


Traducere Patricia Lidia