#poem, «Changing of the Guard» (An Euro-Ku)

“Changing of the Guard” (An Euro-Ku)

These city streets recall my passing
and remember my footsteps, on each corner
and pass from mouth to mouth stories I had quite forgotten,
while faces in the winds blur like smoke,
but the echoes of their voices always linger.

I pass greeting the shadows of old promises,
my hands reaching for what I had lost,
like a crown of fleeting triumphs that precariously balanced on my head.

Moonlight permeates the darkened wall,
and the changing of the guard, unseen by only me,
leaves behind only the pulse of time.

C.2025 – Francisco Bravo Cabrera – 21 AUG 2025 – Izmir, Türkiye

NOTA BENE

An Euro-Ku is my invention from 2022. As I admire the original Japanese poetry form, I wanted to write in the style. However, being a Westerner and not having the benefit of the Japanese culture, language or history, I felt I could not honour the original Haiku. So I thought it would be beneficial to create a similar form but suited to the European mentality, history and culture. The Euro-Ku still maintains the three stanzas or verses, however, since it is written in English, (or any other European language), it made no sense to stick to the strict syllabic count, which works for Japanese but not for any other language. So there are no syllabic counts or restrictions in the Euro-Ku. Another rule, if I may, is that the verses must flow easily and logically into each other completing the thought and the story. No verse should just flow into outer space. And finally the Euro-Ku must be accompanied by an original, inedited illustration made by the author specifically for the poem.

Try it…

CHEERS