Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,
Our trip straight through the Soviet Union is an adventure and to me also a challenge, because I didn't know if you would like this trip, but as far as I have seen ... you all enjoying it very much so it's a joy to lead you all further into the depths of the Soviet Union.
As Paulo and his group are on their way too they talk a lot with eachother and during the trip the group becomes closer and stronger, but they all have at first a kind of hatred against Hilal, the female violinist who has forced herself into the group. Somewhere between Moscow and Yekaterinburg, the birth-place of Hilal, Paulo and Hilal experiencing the 'Aleph' for the very first time. Paulo looks deep into the eyes of Hilal and enters the 'Aleph' ... he describes it with these words:
[...] 'feelings that simultaneously exalt and suffocate. Doors open and close again' [...]
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| " doors open and close again " |
As we arrive at Kirov, we have almost travelled a tenth of the journey it's almost morning.Kirov, formerly known as Khlynov, is a city and the administrative center of Kirov Oblast, Russia, located on the Vyatka River. A little bit of history about Kirov I have to share here (just for fun). The fort of Khlynov, situated just west of the Ural Mountains, was founded by Novgorodian entrepreneurs in 1181. It was first mentioned as a town in documents from 1374. Khlynov was incorporated into the Grand Duchy of Moscow in 1489 and became known throughout Russia for its clay statuettes and whistles. It was also managed by Khanate of Kazan and was known as "Hılın". The town's oldest surviving monument is the Assumption Cathedral (1689), an imposing structure surmounted by five globular domes.In 1781, Catherine the Great renamed the town Vyatka and made it the seat of Vyatka Governorate. By the end of the 19th century, it was an important station on the Trans-Siberian railway. In December 1934, it was renamed for the Soviet leader Sergey Kirov.
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| Kirov, in the early 20th century, than named Vyatka |
Kirov, has become one of the major stations along the Trans Siberian Railroad, but in the novel of Paulo Coelho it isn't mentioned, because it wasn't part of his 'pilgrimage'.
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| General view Kirov |
a strong heartbeat
as I open the doors of my mind
dreaming of Kirov
dreaming of Kirov
thoughts whirrling through my head -
my first kiss
my first kiss
as doors open and close in the 'Aleph' -
roses in full bloom
roses in full bloom
what do they tell my heart?
in love again
Hm ... I don't know if these are in tune with Kirov and our search for the 'Aleph', but it triggers deep hidden emotions of yesterdays lovers ...
This episode will stay on until January 7th 11.59 AM (CET) and I will post our new episode, Perm, later on today. !! Kirov is open for your submissions tonight at 7.00 PM (CET) !! Have fun, be inspired and share your haiku, senryu, tanka or kyoka with us all here at our Haiku Kai, the place to be if you like writing and sharing haiku with the world.
Kristjaan, I had to say I was sceptic to this series.. but it has taken my on a journey that I really want to do at some point... the cities that you just pass provides a special experience on a train.. I have started to read Aleph now, and hope to be in sync with my haibun series.
ReplyDeleteLoved your series, they provide a tenderness that really is great.
This is a true journey to a vast soul, of Siberia, and our common soul, deep. Thanks. Your haiku are reflecting this, with the doors and pungeant roses.
ReplyDeleteVisiting Russia was a "must do" dream of mine before my previous marriage in the late 70s. Wish I felt better to participate more in the prompts. I was shocked to see three days had passed since I last was able to write. I have seen two Russian ballet companies in the US in my life...one just last year. I had to work that into my haiku. This is a lovely series.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Maggie. This is a lovely series, Kristjaan. And yes, Maggie, the train is a-moving fast! It's hard to keep up, but if I miss a couple stops, I get back on at another station down the line.
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