Ioana Ieronim: The Lens of a Flame

ISBN: 978-606-92387-1-4

The Lens of a Flame

but what are we?

we who have found

the void in the golden middle

and wildfire at the core

and at the crossroads – no good choice,

like in that old Romanian fairytale

pebbles struck in the dark

kindled the fire

– here, the scent of fire in our palms

are we then dragons

wolves

salamanders

who have fed on words of fire

and have opened a thousand eyes

yet there’s only one way given

for us to see

through a lens, the flame

rugged and silky

that envelops us

Ioana Ieronim

Ioana Ieronim: Lost Traditions

© by Narodni.net

Lost Traditions

When you keep your frostbitten feet in boots you've outgrown
when you shiver in the same shabby coat from fall to summer
when there's almost nothing on the Kredenz in the pantry for you to
    spread on your black bread-- it means your parents have lost so
    much they've started to lose even their memories
after all, who can remember all those celebrations? Time was different
    for the old folks
There's no more need for all those fancy words, either-- and so you
    forget them. Who cares about words now, anyway? Stop
    pestering us with your questions, child! Go and find your answers
    for yourself.

Bits and pieces are all we have left of the costumes of olden days. But
    you need the whole outfit for confirmation. Luckily the grocer
    has just stocked some flowery ribbon: Edelweiss, on a blue and
    black background-- how perfect! You sew it to the cloth, and
    from a distance it looks embroidered.

That's right. When people lose too much, they lose their traditions too.

Ioana Ieronim