D is for Dictator

Nicolae Ceausescu was born on January 26, 1918. He met future Romanian leader Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej in prison, and succeeded him after his death in 1965. 

In 1944, with the Axis powers starting to lose ground, followed by the Soviet invasion of Romania, Ceausescu escaped from prison. Within a year, as Romania fell under Communist rule, the young leader began his climb to power.

 

Since 1965 he ruled Romania according to orthodox Communist principles, being loved and hated for his regime. The resulting unrest led to the collapse of Ceausescu's regime and his execution in 1989.

This is a very short resume of the incredible historical period represented by Ceausescu's regime.

Romania is one of the few countries to execute its leaders in modern day history. And in spite of  the controversy of his regime, the trial of the Ceausescu couple and their execution is even more controversial. (Not a great way to start a new political chapter in the country's history, I'd say)

That makes you think about change and about the past. Who can guarantee change is good? Who can offer something better than the present? 

decision for all -

the end of a known winter,

the start in a spring

C is for Casa Memoriala Nicolae Ceausescu

Casa Memoriala Nicolae Ceausescu (The Memorial House of Nicolae Ceausescu)

This is the place where Nicolae Ceausescu was born and educated.

The place hasn't been altered or modified. It can easily be confused with a Romanian (National) Village Museum house. 

The interior of the house consists of two small rooms ornanted with traditional objects as if to keep Ceausescu's spirit alive, to celebrate the Romanian way of life from the beginning of the XXth century.

just like yesterday -

historical place unchanged,

mindset altered

In front of the house a statue of the former dictator has been added just a few years ago. Till then, there was nothing letting the passers-by know they're sitting in front of a place that shaped a country leader.

visiting today

I contemplate the watch guard:

statue from our past 

While there, I've taken my time on the verandah, thinking what could have been that made a country side boy grow up to become a country leader.

I'm taken aback - 

I watch what he might have watched,

I sit where he sat

B is for Before

We've been here for a long time, ready for the long ride. We've been makers of history, we've been shaping culture and taming nature. 

Scornicesti is situated in an arid, agricultural area and it has been atested that the ground where our town stands today has been populated since late neolithic. There have also been discovered traces of Dacian settlements from the 2nd century B.C. and Daco-Roman settlements from the 1st and 2nd century A.C., which is a very important period in the shaping of the Romanian culture, hence the name "makers of history."

traces of the past...

how much of what must have been

is still underground?

they made history

and history changed with them -

cherishing today

In 1918, Nicolae Ceausescu, the former president and dictator of Romania is born in Scornicesti, which was at that moment just a small village. After Ceausescu became Romania's president, Scornicesti started blooming and it finally received the status of town in 1989, shortly before the Revolution which lead to the removal of Ceausescu from his position and then to his death. Ever since Scornicesti stagnated, as if the time had stopped.

what once ascended,

reaching a maximum bloom

is now forgotten

 

 This is one of the town's emblem's over time.

A to Z Challenge , Theme Big Reveal

It's time for The Big Reveal Bloghop hosted by Mina Lobo and David Macaulay. This bloghop is for those who entered the A To Z challenge for April - which is almost here - and it means sharing the Theme for the April A To Z Challenge. So...

 

So... here it comes: I'm going to use haibun (a classical Japanese writing form that combines text, haiku, tanka and sometimes photos) to write about a familiar place: my home town - Scornicesti, Romania. 

What's special about it? Well, the only thing remarcable about Scornicesti is the fact that Nicolae Ceausescu, Romania's dictator was born here.

This means I'm going to share photos, poems inspired by places and events that took place in Scornicesti or are related to it, also including my thoughts about the past ande present. I will also incorporate historical facts, geographic info, travel details and more.

Why did I chose this theme, you might ask. I did it because I wanted to improve the view on Scornicesti, which is unfairly presented as the gate of hell. I also think some people would like to see a great deal of pictures of Scornicesti, the hometown of Nicolae Ceausescu. It isn't a big city - actually, it barely is a city - but it has some ups, too.

The haibun was the best choice in what concerns the writing style because it allows me to switch freely between haiku, tanka, descriptive text, thoughts and pictures.

My tags for April A to Z will be:
Scornicesti, Romania, Ceausescu, Nicolae Ceausescu, history, travel, geography, photo, haibun, haiku, haiga, tanka, challence, A to Z challenge.

 

I must admit, I don't know and I'm curious how well known Scornicesti is outside Romania. feel free to tell me what and if you know about Romania, Scornicesti and Ceausescu.

PS: In April I'm also doing Haiku Heights April challenge which is designed for Ato Z Challenge, so I'll also be adding the haiku written for it in the same post.

Now that the reveal is over, my haiku for today:

Carpe Diem

March 21st, the first day of spring

Earth bowing to Sun,

same old passage ritual -

Moon and Sun - eguals.

NaHaaiWriMo

March 21st, learning, teaching

Buddha's teachings time,

ideas nurtured and grown -

shrine changed for a grove

 Have a beautiful spring!