The power of love

by Ionela Flood


Norway is engulfed by tears
A game of power?
extreme freedom takes it away
losing love, compassion
losing self control
making Death so clear
for the mourning mothers
for the grieving orphans

Horror crime and terror
challenging the world
scars of hidden hatred
pushing love to hell
tears of heaven given
a tsunami of despair

Stop the power game
stop the me and you
start a bigger together
to save the world
from more pain

Learn to love more, my sisters
learn to breath air not fear
then give it to the world
as an act of passion

Brothers and quiet soldiers
give your guns full hearts
and load them permanently
with the grace of love.

23 July 2011
London

A poem dedicated to the victims of the mass murder attack in Sundvollen and Oslo, Norway .

Invitation to composers 2011- Concerts, composers' talk, book launch and film: 29 June at 7.30pm & 6 July at 7.00pm

Dear Friends,

I am welcoming you to the new work of Invitation to Composers Project 2011.
Please come along and enjoy the work of contemporary composers that will be presented during this year in UK, France and Romania by Anda Anastasescu and London Schubert Players. The fist 2 event will take place in London:



Wednesday 29 June 2011 at 7.30pm
Bolivar Hall 54 Grafton Way, London W1T 5DL
Entrance free


Wednesday 6 July 2011 at 7.00pm
ICR London- 1 Belgrave Square, London, SW1X 8PH
Entrance free

More information from www.invitationtocomposers.co.uk

http://www.facebook.com/notes/anda-anastasescu/the-song-that-never-ends-wednesday-6-july-2011-at-7pm/123955921021789

I am looking forward to see you,

Yours

Ionela Flood

President
Info Manager Association Romania
Partner of Invitation to Composers Project
www.asociatiainfomanager.com
http://asociatiainfomanager.blogspot.com/

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Concerts, composers' talk, book launch and film: 29 June at 7.30pm & 6 July at 7.00pm

Be not afeard: the isle is full of noises,
Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight,
and hurt not.
The Tempest, Shakespeare.

The London Schubert Players welcome you to the mysterious sounds of their next journeys:
- the magical musical world of Ravel and Faure
- the film-like music of the Jewish-Ethiopian story which brought many international awards to Radu Mihaileanu's film Va, vis et deviens
- a meditation by a Serbo-Croat composer on Japanese poet Basho
- the colourful and delightful rhythms of Venezuelan and Romanian dances
- the poetical paths of Heine, Baudelaire and Tennyson put to music by composers Silvestri, Cashian and Nickol.



The two events are part of Invitation to Composers international project, which has enriched Europe’s cultural heritage in 2010 and 2011 with 40 valuable works inspired by music, literature, visual arts, history and nature. It is building bridges between great traditions of music of the past and contemporary thought, without the use of electronics and non-musical experiments. It was one of 87 projects selected by the European Commission out of 298 for its recent cultural programmes. It has caught the interest, imagination and admiration of over 100 professional composers and 80 performers worldwide, the composition department of London’s Royal Academy of Music, record distributors, festival directors and music lovers.

The book to be launched contains the Bournemouth Symphony players' impressions about the legendary Romanian conductor Constantin Silvestri; and the unique film, shown publicly in Britain for the first time on July 6th, a tremendous performance of Silvestri conducting the French National Radio Orchestra in Liszt's poem Tasso and Silvestri's own work Prelude and Fugue (Toccata).



We want to share these journeys, entrance is free and a glass of wine will be waiting for you!

See you soon,
Yours in Music,
Anda and the London Schubert Players



FINANTATORI:
European Union Culture Fund, Programme 2007-2013
London Schubert Players Trust
Lionel Tertis Foundation, London
Institutul Cultural Roman, Paris
Institutul Cultural Roman, Londra
Asociatia Info Manager, Bucuresti

SPONSORI SI PARTENERI:
British Council Romania
Universitatea de Muzica Bucuresti
Exclusive Holidays
Hotel Rembrandt
Opus Musica
Ambasada României in Marea Britanie
Ambasada României in Franţa
Universite Paris 8
Academia de Muzica Gheorghe Dima Cluj
Fundaţia Tertis
Music Information Centre Norway
Românca Society
Radio Ciocârlia
Asociaţia Adolescentul
Pro Diaspora

PARTENERI MEDIA:
Radio Romania Cultural
Radio Romania Muzical
Radio Romania Actualitati
Radio Romania International
RADOR
Romanian Global News
Fadere
Liga Culturală pentru Unitatea Românilor de Pretutindeni
Turism si Afaceri
Unifero
Aşii României
Starpress
Reţeaua Literară
Revista Vatra Veche
Fundatia Asturian
Fundaţia Heron
Asociaţia Unirea Viena
Diaspora
Ziarul Romanesc
Diaspora Online
Românul
Nou Horizont
Niram Art
Revista Oglinda

SUPORTERI:
Români Online
Români in UK
Stewart’s Melville College Edinburg
The Griffon Partnership Norfolk

Exhibition of Romanian books and traditional costumes, 20 June 2011, 18.30 hrs, at the Embassy’s venue, in 1 Belgrave Square, London

» Exhibition of Romanian books and traditional costumes

20 June 2011, 18.30 hrs – In the presence the Ambassador of Romania to London, Dr Ion Jinga, at the Embassy’s venue, in 1 Belgrave Square SW1X 8PH, the Romanian Association of Wales along with the Românca Society are presenting the “Exhibition of Romanian books and traditional costumes”.

The event aims at presenting the Romanian traditional costumes and reunites as special guests:

- Mr Vasile Timis, Secretary of State, Ministry of Culture and National Cultural Heritage;
- Associate Professor Dr. Paula Popoiu, General Manager of the National Village Museum, Bucharest;
- Associate Dr. Elena Tirziman, General Director, National Library of Romania;
- Dr. Sanda Miller, writer and lecturer;
- PhD. Ionela Flood, writer, President of the Românca Society

Associate Professor Dr. Paula Popoiu will speak about the Romanian traditional costume, and four young Romanians, wearing traditional costumes will highlight the colour and charm of our tradition, keeper of the Romanian spirit.

The Romanian Association of Wales will make a donation of books and costumes to the Embassy of Romania in London.

Associate Dr. Elena Tirziman will present the book donnation, in dialogue with the public.

The release of the Romanian poetry book Parfumul Ingerilor (The Perfume of Angels), written by Ionela Flood will complete the evening programme. The book has illustrations made by John Astalus, Adina Romanescu Vlaic Peter, Amy Lee and Adela Ursache, and comes with a multimedia CD.



The event will also include a recital performed by the Romanian pianist Diana Ionescu.

This project has been initiated by Ştefan Giurcă, founding member of the Romanian Association of Wales and benefits of the kind support of the Presidential Administration, the Embassy of Romania in London, the Ministry of Culture and National Cultural Heritage, the National Library of Romania, “Dimitrie Gusti” National Village Museum – Bucharest, “Busuiocul” – Romanian folk dance group of Bacau, as well as of the Romanian National Television.

Please RSVP until 18 June to Ionela Flood on email : ionela@talktalk.net or mobile 07515253584.

Ionela Flood -Românca Society & Stefan Giurca-Romanian Association of Wales

Happy Easter!

All our best wishes for your Easter Holidays!


Ionela Flood



"Te-ai coborat"-a song by Corneliu Pavel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaLM5ZduH0k


Icon by Aurelia Chiriac Carabinieru

Happy 8 March!

Romanca Society will celebrate International Womens Day in Wales. You are welcome to join Ionela Flood talk about Martisor and her award winning poetry book "Shores of love" on 9 March 7.30pm at Oriel -Qeens, Hall Gallery Narbert, High Street, Narberth SA667AS .For details contact Lynn 01834869454, or Ionela 07515253584 . I am looking to see you there. Ionela Flood

Welcome to my poetry !

Shores of Love by Ionela Flood work in progress, soon to be published.
The Romanian version of the book is available on request by emailing to : ionela@talktalk.net



Book illustration by Adela Ursache for the poetry Mutual


Mutual



Love is painted
On your thoughts

The whispers of stars
Swing our dreams

Singer of words
Perceptive understanding
You easily trickle
Upon my thighs
Radiating with sorrow.

March 2008,London


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The Ship of Trebizont



Last night I discovered in my sleep
A sweet unicorn horn
And I spotted you circled
Seated at the best tables,
humble and silent,
In front of silver table
With all the cutlery ready
For the altered banquet
It would be my dear swain, a fate
With beds, quilts and Countesses
With nipples, meat for cannons
The drama thrown under the tables
And the hordes of gods from Olympus
On the Whipping Valley building
A barrier of words to
the cries of the ones who
Need to be remembered
there your twin soul
gave to you the mystic sail
Let me go on a rampage
Ship of Trebizont
With a new spell
To anchor for the first time
Fates of rot and shame
On the star that is about to die!
On the Heavenly music
We build a palace for the people
Built on four sides
On the diagonal cross of Pilate

Smiling, hugged us, humble
On the sweet silver staircase
Look innocent through the horn
Beautiful herds of unicorns.

September 2009 London

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Foreword

by Victor Craciun


I received about 50 poems from Ionela Flood, a member of the Romanian community in Britain, together with the request to write a preface to their publication.
I have known her for a few years; this energetic force of national culture who, like many other Romanians has decided to work abroad - in her case England.
She is, by far, one of the most active leaders of Romanian associations in the world. For almost two days information has reached us about the activities they undertake for the benefit of Romanian, both in the sphere of social and cultural matters. I should mention her participation at the only meeting of Romanians from the Diaspora , held in Alba Iulia; Annual Congress of Romanian spirituality.
She is outspoken and persuasive, defending Romanian, the language and culture of this nation. Thereby forcing people to talk about their home, with more respect and it has to be said, in a powerful literary her wish is to draw the community in which she lives towards Romanian culture.
She chose to surface with poetry, adding her name to the long list of notable poets from Romanian literature, , naturally, with its modern development, with an important share of their creation, as well as in other cultures. We Romanians, take pride in well known poets, who have remained in literary history, each with their recognized role in cultures around the world; for example, Anna de Noailles, , as with Iulia Hasdeu, unfortunately gone before she could fully establish her promising talent. Next, Veronica Micle, in tune more with the love poetry of Eminescu, a poet in the true sense of the word, followed a long line of illustrious names- many recorded - and the language in which they wrote, especiallyFrench.
The twentieth century was made much richer by women, and, quite encouraging for the whole of literature, written by women, claiming in all areas - poetry, prose, drama, and essay.
I see the contribution of Romanian literature as extremely beneficial, bringing a touch of tenderness, refinement, expressiveness and it is therefore very receptive to any new appearance on the horizon becoming full of creative reflection.
I turned on the computer, reading on the monitor screen, first mechanically, and then with a growing interest in the lively lyrics submitted by Ionela Flood, with our desire to express in one word.
I’m not a supporter of reading poems on a screen. They flog the rhythms and the written traces. I think that a poem is not to be read as a novel, to grab the storyline, the unrealizable to learn the end. Reading a volume of poetry requires a certain measure of lyrical essences: to read a few poems, then let the rhythms and rhymes influence you: then, back to reading, for you to access the meanings of metaphors and the emotional state of the creator.
But, observe, reading and electronics can be modern, more practical, easier, but depriving you of that intimacy that is created between the reader and page, making it nearly impossible to read a poem back to your loved one, since, you can make a dedication to the lyrics in front of a computer.
But let's return to the verses that we read, even in the modern option. I knew that Ionela Flood is an essayist and that she could write poetry. She has even recited, once, a few poems. Now, here, we have a volume which is mainly an expression of love . A late love? Certainly not: perpetually, at any age, we are capable of love. Its sensitivity towards others is different from the other poetesses today, revealing the surprise of metaphor. She understood that love
"Me I have regained my self / my love”.
In this reflection there is "the taste of happiness". It is destined to overcome even, merely "with my right eyelash”.
The offering is a dose of discretion and sexual exuberance from The Country Girls, like in the debut volume of Maria Banus.
Love, no matter how vulgar, sensuous, voluptuous described by other poets, differs with the pen of Ionela Flood. Consider, "you started to boil within me,": said with a certain tenderness. Also in this quatrain:


It's your house too small
I collect on the thighs.
It hurts on the eaves,
And going back-n trance.
(Nest)

Such love is a passion: and with poets, "is free", is destined to cure the wound infinity;victory is a delicacy and not sexual torment. The rationale is to "scream my longing " : the woman who feels "A princess for a kiss" even if "forgotten"; obsession is the "spiral", which means virility, but also spiritual twist. (Brancusi is referred to and also James Joyce´s spiral) Waiting, searching, retrieving means, "to consume the desire”.
As with any poetess, she is not interested in the biological woman, but the outbreak of genuine thrill, beyond age and desire. Simply put, "we loved / we used to love / us two" for that "we kiss the same sky”. Love lights, clear, in search of purity, which is not always found.
These are revelations, that the poet gives us, in a modern descriptive style , with refreshing expression; wavering between the purity of love and dedication.
Undoubtedly, not all poems are equal in value - nor should they be - and even within the same poem you can not find a constructive balance. But overall, the structure itself is impressive: lyrical outburst, sincerity, honesty of feelings. There is an abundance of elegant lyrical expression.
This volume must be read and to begin it compels you to find the meaning and to continue. A rhyme is a difficult statement and not an accidental form. .. The poet should dedicate herself, for her vocation, only to this form in the future.