International Olympicosmpoetriada

EARTH AND SKY

This astro-photo-art-poem by Arlene Carol (USA, residing in Turkey) precedes my astrohaiku in the latest web production by SARM MASTER FESTIVAL (PART II OF MASTER OLYMPICOSMOPOETRIADA)

***

across light years
googols of radio waves
oscillate

Gerald England

The anthology of super photographs and poetry also includes

ESCAPING QUESTION

Whispers her dream snake
tongue licked up from pyramid
peak caught fly wise fall
of meteor swallowed spark
reawake mummy's goodbye smile

by Steve Sneyd

SIGNALS, DEDICATED FROM THE SKY

In the picture above, on the bottom left, you see the lunar disk. Ufo Analyzer software has classified the fireball as belonging to the class "J5_And" Andromenidi with estimated magnitude, but perhaps underestimated: - (minus) 4.5!
Latitude and Longitude of observing station:
Lat 46.933300 North
Long 26.366600 East
Date of sighting: 19th November 2011

image © Alfredo Caronia (Italy,
co-discoverer of 5 asteroids, established in Romania)

is followed by

3.3.12

I missed the fireball streak across the sky
That set alarm calls ringing across the land
As people thought a plane was crashing, or
A UFO had brought aliens from on high
(Their mission to invade had long been planned)
But, most likely it was just a meteor.

by John Francis Haines

Another contribution by Steve Sneyd is

TANKA

Twin suns death dancing
tear gobbets of hot flesh : shared
world pretends nothing
much just presents a gain who
hurl harmless lost meteor dreams


Valentin Grigore's VENUS AND JUPITER OVER TARGOVISTE, 15th March 2012

is followed by

twilight
an incoming jet flies by
Venus twinkles

Gerald England

All of this is just a minute part of the International Olympicosmpoetriada coordinated by Andrei Dorian Gheorghe and Valentin Grigore of the Romanian Society for Meteors and Astronomy.

McNaught captured in words and pictures

photo © Danut Ionescu, 2007
words © Andrei Dorian Gheorghe, 2007

Our friends at SARM have come up with another compilation of astrohaiku and photographs. This one is dedicated to Comet McNaught.

My poem from the site has already appeared here.

Like me, several people write about their inability to see the comet because of bad weather or simply being in the wrong place. Arlene Carol Brill in Turkey writes a McGonagall-esque poem which includes lines such as:-

Searching the fiery horizon with straining eyes
For the glorious tail of the comet.
McNaught is NOT.

...

I was there
but McNaught
was naught!

but eventually

In broad daylight - I see it!
Victorious, eyes wide in deep amazement -
McNaught at noon! ...

The photographs range from North America through Europe to Siberia, but the best are those from the Southern Hemisphere, where the comet's tail is particulary prominent.

Here are three haiku from UK poets:

Just once, this fiery
Streak will enliven our skies -
Then go forever

John Francis Haines

brief sun pasture graze
intent, don’t notice sheep-drag
tail liar-nose grows

Steve Sneyd

hemlock trees-
the comet fans out over
Swifts Creek

Alan Summers