Moldovan departed poet commemorated at 82nd birthday anniversary

Chisinau, 14 February /MOLDPRES/ - Tens of people today assembled at the bust of Grigore Vieru on the Alley of Classics of the Romanian Literature from Chisinau, to pay homage to the departed poet on the day when he would have turned 82.  

Among them, there were writers, composers, newspapermen, culture people, teachers, pupils and children.  

Attending the event, the wife of the departed poet, Raisa Vieru, said, inter alia, that the name of Grigore Vieru continued to last after the poet’s passing away. Thus, she said, more lyceums and gymnasiums from Moldova bear the name of Grigore Vieru, and last year, an anthology titled „Strigat-am către tine, fiule” (I Called You, Son) had been published. This is a selection of the poet’s works, made by his friend, Spiridon Vangheli. Also, a bilingual issue, in Romanian and Spanish, of  Vieru’s works appeared in Spain.        

For his part, the son of the departed poet, Calin Vieru, said that an important event was the organization by the Chisinau municipality’s culture department of a contest titled, Grigore Vieru – Poet Uniting Us, which started at the Philology Faculty of the Chisinau-based Ion Creanga State Pedagogical University today.  

“The ninth issue of the Grigore Vieru International Poetry Festival, space bridge Iasi-Chisinau, will be organized in next May. We hope that the festival will have continuity, so that the name and poems of Grigore Vieru last,” Calin Vieru stressed.     

Poet Grigore Vieru was born in the Pererita village, Hotin county, presently the northern Briceni district. He is the author of more volumes of poems for children and adults, as well as of a primer. His works were translated into English, Russian, German, Italian, Bulgarian and other languages. In 1988, Grigore Vieru was awarded the most prestigious international distinction in the field of literature for children – Honorary Diploma H. Ch. Andersen. In 1996, Vieru was awarded the Order of the Republic. In 1990, the departed poet was elected Honorary Member of the Romanian Academy, and in 1993 – its corresponding member. Grigore Vieru died in the wake of a traffic accident on 18 January 2009.  

(Reporter N. Roibu, editor M. Jantovan)