JaZzArt en València

Now That We Are Green
11 JUN 2024
Francisco Bravo Cabrera
(Written while listening to Sonny Rollins)

Now that we’ve left behind the challenge,
which is youth,
to dance a minuet with shadows on the wall,
we’re on a first name basis with the monsters down the hall,
and often need a comforting embrace.

Some think we need a kiss
to moisten
the dry wrinkles
that our wisdom…and our years…has sculpted on our face.
But instead we turn our head,
and shy away from kisses and embraces.

We’re wingless,
flightless birds
that calloused hands have fed.
Not being able to take flight,
we have walked
burdening the Earth with our little sorrows.
But now that we are green,
we find no need to hurry,
we can finally rest.

One day I took three coins and tossed them in the air,
and searched the I-Ching for answers.
How will the end be?
Will there be days when tears cloud my eyes
and grey clouds fill my skies?
The answers are still floating with the coins high in the winds
or in the pages of I-Ching…

Where do they hide, the days that have flown by?
The past is a closet filled with sighs.
But the past becomes the search in old crates of oak and iron,
filled with time,
forgotten in the darkest corner of a musty attic.
Time hides and no one can find her,
though everywhere there’s hidden time…

Time brings miracles and wonders.
I am.
You are.
I’ve been.
You’ve been.
But now that we are green,
the truth is seen…

Green eyes can see the shattered spirit of
the passersby,
hearts heavy with misery,
and sins that loudly
rise from our dirty streets.

Can anyone smell what I see? (asks the stranger)

“I can”, I reply,
and I wonder…

All we’ve done is hide from sorrow,
run from pain,
and we sit,
whiskey in hand imagining how much we’ve changed.

But now we’ve all green eyes.
We’re returning to the skies.
We can see who’s in the dark,
like we have seen who’s in the light.
And now that we are free from the shackles of our youth,
we know we have been lied to
we know that we’ve been used.

C.2024, Francisco Bravo Cabrera, 11 JUN 2024, Valencia, España

CHEERS

The POETS & WRITERS (limited) Series on VALENCIARTIST comes to a close this Friday! It has been phenomenal to have featured 14 protagonists from our WordPress community and beyond. We hope you have enjoyed their work and getting to know them a little better and that you reach out to their sites to follow their amazing trajectory in the art/poetry/literature world.

OUR PROTAGONISTS

Ana De Lacalle: https://paintinginvalencia.com/2024/05/27/poem-serie-de-poetas-y-escritores-pagina-1-ana-de-lacalle-poets-writers-series-page-1-3/

Barbara Leonhard: https://paintinginvalencia.com/2024/05/28/poem-poets-writers-series-page-2-barbara-leonhard/

Cindy Georgakas: https://paintinginvalencia.com/2024/05/29/poem-poets-writers-series-page-3-cindy-georgakas/

Dawn Pisturino: https://paintinginvalencia.com/2024/05/31/poem-poets-writers-series-dawn-pisturino/

Delana Ornelas: https://paintinginvalencia.com/2024/06/01/poem-poets-writers-series-delana-ornelas/

Joni Karen Caggiano: https://paintinginvalencia.com/2024/06/02/poem-poets-writers-series-sunday-edition-joni-karen-caggiano/

J. Re Crivello: https://paintinginvalencia.com/2024/06/03/poem-serie-de-poetas-y-escritores-j-re-crivello/

Manuel Calderón: https://paintinginvalencia.com/2024/06/04/poem-serie-de-poetas-escritores-manuel-calderon/

Michelle Ayon Navajas: https://paintinginvalencia.com/2024/06/05/poem-poets-writers-series-michelle-ayon-navas/

Nigel Byng: https://paintinginvalencia.com/2024/06/07/poem-poets-writers-series-nigel-byng/

Janet Morrison: https://paintinginvalencia.com/2024/06/09/poem-prose-poets-writers-series-janet-morrison/

Pat Alderman: https://paintinginvalencia.com/2024/06/11/poem-prose-poets-writers-series-pat-alderman/

Cassa Bassa: https://paintinginvalencia.com/2024/06/12/poem-prose-poets-writers-series-cassa-bassa-2/

STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT ONE THAT WILL CONCLUDE THE SERIES:

FRIDAY: SARFRAZ AHMED (UK)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

CHEERS

Uno de los nuestros y de los grandes… Ignacio Pinazo Camarlench nació en Valencia en 1849 y murió en 1916. Surge de familia humilde y comenzó sus estudios en la Academia de Bellas Artes de San Carlos de Valencia en 1864 y se ganaba la vida de sombrerero. Luego en 1871 logró su primera exposición en la Exposición Nacional de Bellas Artes. Sus primeras obras no fueron totalmente de genero, aunque si academistas, pero Camarlench siempre fue buscando algo diferente y se nota. Pasó hacia el impresionismo en 1874 siguiendo los pasos de Sorolla y de otros pintores españoles como Francisco Domingo Marqués… Ignacio fue profesor de Bellas Artes en la Escuela de Valencia y en 1896 fue nombrado como académico en la Escuela de Bellas Artes de San Carlos de Valencia… Fue un gran retratista, ganador de la medalla de la exposición nacional (1897). Uno de sus retratos famosos fue el de su majestad Don Alfonso XIII. Fue nombrado académico de la Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando de Valencia (1912)… Aunque se le conoce como un impresionista, su obra tiene mucho mas ya que él incorpora aspectos del naturalismo y también mucha psicología y emoción en su obra. Si uno se fija bien verá que en los espacios negativos de muchos de sus lienzos hay también mucha arte abstracta… El Museo del Prado tiene muchas obras de este gran pintor valenciano.

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One of our own (Valencian) and one of the greats… Ignacio Pinazo Camarlench was born in Valencia in 1849 and died in 1916. He came from a humble family and began his studies at the Academy of Fine Arts of San Carlos in Valencia in 1864 while making a living as a hat maker. In 1871, he achieved his first exhibition at the National Exhibition of Fine Arts. His early works were not strictly of the popular genre at the time, though they were academic. But Camarlench was always searching for something different, and it showed. He moved towards Impressionism in 1874, following in the footsteps of Sorolla and other Spanish painters like Francisco Domingo Marqués… Ignacio was a professor of Fine Arts at the Valencia School and in 1896, he was appointed as an academic at the School of Fine Arts of San Carlos in Valencia… He was a great portraitist, winning the gold medal at the national exhibition (1897). One of his famous portraits was that of His Majesty King Alfonso XIII. He was named an academic at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando in Valencia (1912)… Although he is known as an Impressionist, his work encompasses much more as he incorporates aspects of naturalism as well as a great deal of psychological aspects and emotion into his work. If one looks closely, they will see that in the negative spaces of many of his canvases, there is also a great deal of abstract art… The Prado Museum houses many works by this great Valencian painter.

Este pintor no tiene desperdicio y os urjo a que busquéis mas sobre Ignacio Pinazo Camarlech.

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This painter is phenomenal and I truly urge you to look further into the work of Ignacio Pinazo Camerlech, I know you will be delighted at what you will find.

GRACIAS – CHEERS

WELCOME BACK! The POETS & WRITERS Series is proud to present a brilliant poet and writer from Australia who has delighted us with her poetry for quite some time now. I am sure you will be delighted to meet, or to get better acquainted with Carrie Young, known to our WordPress community…and beyond…as Cassa Bassa.

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CASSA BASSA’S BIO

Jia-Li YANG is a Chinese born Australia poet and micro fiction writer. She blogs and publishes under the pseudonym Cassa Bassa. Bassa is an inquisitive writer with a love for people. She writes out a multiversity of eclectic, compelling stories that describe her own experiences and her understanding of others, with a curiosity of humanity and what makes us really tick. Her poetry is bold, honest, and authentic.

We invite you to visit her website/blog:

https://flickerofthoughts.com/

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CASSA BASSA IN HER OWN WORDS

1) Does poetry have the power to transform its writer?

I find poetry helps me to process at times complex emotions.
When I read some of the poetry which I have written, they show parts of me crystal clear. In that sense, yes, poetry can transform it’s writer. In a way, it completes me.

2) Do you write from experience?

I write often in first person because when I write, I step into the character. Writing poetry is like acting for me.
Some poetry I wrote were based on personal life experience, some were inspired by people I know fictional or real, a lot were observations of nature, surrounding and life itself.

3) Why do you write? And is it important to have a professional education to be a writer?

I write to express myself, gain clarity of my feelings and emotions, and make sense the world around me and the people in it.

Professional education or not, I believe writers are foremost readers. I always know there are treasures buried in books. Sometimes I feel I need to empty my experience, knowledge or experience to be able to write from a place of childlike creativity. I believe we are all creative beings, writing is one of the ways we express and create. Live and learn and live to create.  

+++++++

CASSA BASSA’S POETRY

SPRING IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE

September rain graces Klimt’s garden
White, purple, yellow, pink, orange and red
This is not the time for writing poetry
nor painting in water or oil colours
This moment
is perfect for an orgasmic soak
in Spring’s afterglow

CHEERS

No se puede amnistiar algunos y a otros no…

The POETS & WRITERS (limited) Series on VALENCIARTIST comes to a close this Friday! It has been phenomenal to have featured 14 protagonists from our WordPress community and beyond. We hope you have enjoyed their work and getting to know them a little better and that you reach out to their sites to follow their amazing trajectory in the art/poetry/literature world.

OUR PROTAGONISTS

Ana De Lacalle: https://paintinginvalencia.com/2024/05/27/poem-serie-de-poetas-y-escritores-pagina-1-ana-de-lacalle-poets-writers-series-page-1-3/

Barbara Leonhard: https://paintinginvalencia.com/2024/05/28/poem-poets-writers-series-page-2-barbara-leonhard/

Cindy Georgakas: https://paintinginvalencia.com/2024/05/29/poem-poets-writers-series-page-3-cindy-georgakas/

Dawn Pisturino: https://paintinginvalencia.com/2024/05/31/poem-poets-writers-series-dawn-pisturino/

Delana Ornelas: https://paintinginvalencia.com/2024/06/01/poem-poets-writers-series-delana-ornelas/

Joni Karen Caggiano: https://paintinginvalencia.com/2024/06/02/poem-poets-writers-series-sunday-edition-joni-karen-caggiano/

J. Re Crivello: https://paintinginvalencia.com/2024/06/03/poem-serie-de-poetas-y-escritores-j-re-crivello/

Manuel Calderón: https://paintinginvalencia.com/2024/06/04/poem-serie-de-poetas-escritores-manuel-calderon/

Michelle Ayon Navajas: https://paintinginvalencia.com/2024/06/05/poem-poets-writers-series-michelle-ayon-navas/

Nigel Byng: https://paintinginvalencia.com/2024/06/07/poem-poets-writers-series-nigel-byng/

Janet Morrison: https://paintinginvalencia.com/2024/06/09/poem-prose-poets-writers-series-janet-morrison/

Pat Alderman: https://paintinginvalencia.com/2024/06/11/poem-prose-poets-writers-series-pat-alderman/

STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT ONE THAT WILL CONCLUDE THE SERIES:

FRIDAY: SARFRAZ AHMED (UK)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

CHEERS

WELCOME BACK! The POETS & WRITERS Series is proud to present a brilliant poet and writer from Australia who has delighted us with her poetry for quite some time now. I am sure you will be delighted to meet, or to get better acquainted with Carrie Young, known to our WordPress community…and beyond…as Cassa Bassa.

+++

CASSA BASSA’S BIO

Jia-Li YANG is a Chinese born Australia poet and micro fiction writer. She blogs and publishes under the pseudonym Cassa Bassa. Bassa is an inquisitive writer with a love for people. She writes out a multiversity of eclectic, compelling stories that describe her own experiences and her understanding of others, with a curiosity of humanity and what makes us really tick. Her poetry is bold, honest, and authentic.

We invite you to visit her website/blog:

https://flickerofthoughts.com/

+++++

CASSA BASSA IN HER OWN WORDS

1) Does poetry have the power to transform its writer?

I find poetry helps me to process at times complex emotions.
When I read some of the poetry which I have written, they show parts of me crystal clear. In that sense, yes, poetry can transform it’s writer. In a way, it completes me.

2) Do you write from experience?

I write often in first person because when I write, I step into the character. Writing poetry is like acting for me.
Some poetry I wrote were based on personal life experience, some were inspired by people I know fictional or real, a lot were observations of nature, surrounding and life itself.

3) Why do you write? And is it important to have a professional education to be a writer?

I write to express myself, gain clarity of my feelings and emotions, and make sense the world around me and the people in it.

Professional education or not, I believe writers are foremost readers. I always know there are treasures buried in books. Sometimes I feel I need to empty my experience, knowledge or experience to be able to write from a place of childlike creativity. I believe we are all creative beings, writing is one of the ways we express and create. Live and learn and live to create.  

+++++++

CASSA BASSA’S POETRY

SPRING IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE

September rain graces Klimt’s garden
White, purple, yellow, pink, orange and red
This is not the time for writing poetry
nor painting in water or oil colours
This moment
is perfect for an orgasmic soak
in Spring’s afterglow

CHEERS

The POETS & WRITERS (limited) Series on VALENCIARTIST comes to a close this Friday! It has been phenomenal to have featured 14 protagonists from our WordPress community and beyond. We hope you have enjoyed their work and getting to know them a little better and that you reach out to their sites to follow their amazing trajectory in the art/poetry/literature world.

OUR PROTAGONISTS

Ana De Lacalle: https://paintinginvalencia.com/2024/05/27/poem-serie-de-poetas-y-escritores-pagina-1-ana-de-lacalle-poets-writers-series-page-1-3/

Barbara Leonhard: https://paintinginvalencia.com/2024/05/28/poem-poets-writers-series-page-2-barbara-leonhard/

Cindy Georgakas: https://paintinginvalencia.com/2024/05/29/poem-poets-writers-series-page-3-cindy-georgakas/

Dawn Pisturino: https://paintinginvalencia.com/2024/05/31/poem-poets-writers-series-dawn-pisturino/

Delana Ornelas: https://paintinginvalencia.com/2024/06/01/poem-poets-writers-series-delana-ornelas/

Joni Karen Caggiano: https://paintinginvalencia.com/2024/06/02/poem-poets-writers-series-sunday-edition-joni-karen-caggiano/

J. Re Crivello: https://paintinginvalencia.com/2024/06/03/poem-serie-de-poetas-y-escritores-j-re-crivello/

Manuel Calderón: https://paintinginvalencia.com/2024/06/04/poem-serie-de-poetas-escritores-manuel-calderon/

Michelle Ayon Navajas: https://paintinginvalencia.com/2024/06/05/poem-poets-writers-series-michelle-ayon-navas/

Nigel Byng: https://paintinginvalencia.com/2024/06/07/poem-poets-writers-series-nigel-byng/

Janet Morrison: https://paintinginvalencia.com/2024/06/09/poem-prose-poets-writers-series-janet-morrison/

Pat Alderman: https://paintinginvalencia.com/2024/06/11/poem-prose-poets-writers-series-pat-alderman/

STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT ONE THAT WILL CONCLUDE THE SERIES:

FRIDAY: SARFRAZ AHMED (UK)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

CHEERS

WELCOME BACK! The POETS & WRITERS Series is proud to present a brilliant poet and writer from Australia who has delighted us with her poetry for quite some time now. I am sure you will be delighted to meet, or to get better acquainted with Carrie Young, known to our WordPress community…and beyond…as Cassa Bassa.

+++

CASSA BASSA’S BIO

Jia-Li YANG is a Chinese born Australia poet and micro fiction writer. She blogs and publishes under the pseudonym Cassa Bassa. Bassa is an inquisitive writer with a love for people. She writes out a multiversity of eclectic, compelling stories that describe her own experiences and her understanding of others, with a curiosity of humanity and what makes us really tick. Her poetry is bold, honest, and authentic.

We invite you to visit her website/blog:

https://flickerofthoughts.com/

+++++

CASSA BASSA IN HER OWN WORDS

1) Does poetry have the power to transform its writer?

I find poetry helps me to process at times complex emotions.
When I read some of the poetry which I have written, they show parts of me crystal clear. In that sense, yes, poetry can transform it’s writer. In a way, it completes me.

2) Do you write from experience?

I write often in first person because when I write, I step into the character. Writing poetry is like acting for me.
Some poetry I wrote were based on personal life experience, some were inspired by people I know fictional or real, a lot were observations of nature, surrounding and life itself.

3) Why do you write? And is it important to have a professional education to be a writer?

I write to express myself, gain clarity of my feelings and emotions, and make sense the world around me and the people in it.

Professional education or not, I believe writers are foremost readers. I always know there are treasures buried in books. Sometimes I feel I need to empty my experience, knowledge or experience to be able to write from a place of childlike creativity. I believe we are all creative beings, writing is one of the ways we express and create. Live and learn and live to create.  

+++++++

CASSA BASSA’S POETRY

SPRING IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE

September rain graces Klimt’s garden
White, purple, yellow, pink, orange and red
This is not the time for writing poetry
nor painting in water or oil colours
This moment
is perfect for an orgasmic soak
in Spring’s afterglow

CHEERS

Today I introduce to you a very good friend on WordPress and a brilliant poet, writer, and wine connoisseur, whose witty verses and humorous posts have brightened my Sunday mornings for quite some time.

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Pat Alderman from Virginia is a retired librarian and aspiring blogger.

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PAT IN HER OWN WORDS

1) Who are your major literary/artistic references?

I like the Impressionists in art, baroque and Rock and Roll in music, and historical fiction (of almost any genre).  I prefer a good plot or fascinating characters rather than the classics. Book Clubs are useful to read the type of authors you probably would not pick for yourself.

 2)  What makes you a writer? What do you like to write about? What is your plan for the next five years? 

For me writing is as natural as breathing– scribo ergo sum (I write therefore I am). I like to write essays, poems, short travel or historical pieces.  I got back into poetry because I found that writing a poem helped me get my point across in much fewer words than the standard 500 word essay.  I can’t write music, but I do make up some mean song parodies. I used to have to give myself permission to write either for school or for work.  I took a number of writing classes of various types both while working and after retiring.  The last class I took was on blogging. That gave me a reason to write regularly and I have been blogging since 2017.  I have a quick wit and a snarky sense of humor which has a selective audience. Although I would love to be published somewhere other than in my blog, I have not put the discipline in to make that happen by either a traditional publisher or self-publishing.

3) Do you write about your life, your feelings/emotions, yourself?

I do so selectively.  If something intrigues me or annoys me I will usually write about that.  I have found that those whimsical thoughts either about the human condition, problems with technology, libraries/books, donkeys or  nature or wine-inspired topics, usually generate the most comments.  There are a few bloggers, such as Francisco, who I feel I know at some level so that we can exchange comments on selective topics below the most superficial levels. I have been known to be wrong about that a few times with other bloggers…

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PAT’S WITTY DIALOGUES

If Stupid is 

As stupid does 

Are you stupid 

Just because?

Dedicated to the noon time people at the carwash who are incapable of getting out of their own way.

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PAT’S POETRY

FERAL WIND

The playful breeze

tossed birds into the air

to soar with the currents

swoop with the downdrafts

gliding and pirouetting

between the cliffs of the cove

and the point

where the sea cave channeled

waves through the jutting land.

Pelicans,

resembling vintage airplanes,

tried to land with

wings out stretched like flaps 

feet down

extended landing gear.

As the sun set

the feral wind pounced without warning,

clawing at tablecloths set up for dinner

on the outdoor patio

gas heaters no match for its cold fury.

Cloth napkins played

 keep away with the waiters

who scurried from the restaurant

when they heard the sounds of

tinkling glass breaking and

tumbling silverware clanking.

Pedestrians shrank deeper into their hoodies

as the wind roared

 pushing them up the hill faster

beneath the cormorants,

webbed feet locked,

on the swaying branches

 of the pine trees.

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We hope you have enjoyed this edition of the POETS & WRITERS SERIES which will appear several times during the week for a limited time.

AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE FEATURED AS ONE OF OUR PROTAGONISTS ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS REPLY WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS AND WE WILL SEND YOU THE INFORMATION. THIS SERIES IS OPEN TO ARTISTS, WRITERS, POETS AND EVERYONE ENGAGED IN THE FINE ARTS.

CHEERS