«I Still Believe» (Euro-Ku)

(Photo/»Cruz de mayo» photography by Francisco Bravo Cabrera/All Rights Reserved)

I walk the streets, I watch the tele, I listen to the voices of those who teach and preach, all that they know, all that they’ve learned, so bold, so brave, so sure as they now spread their truth, implacable, of all things of this world,

and science is their unquestionable religion, the scientists their priests, their evolution and their strange beliefs, in black holes and dark matter, is what they’re here to teach,

but me, I never learned, I never paid attention in classrooms full of nerds, I still believe in God and mysteries, in love, in faith and peace, I still believe in wonders and I definitely still seek the guiding light, the wisdom, the help from God we need.

C.2023, Francisco Bravo Cabrera, 22 May 2023, Valencia, España

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This poem is a Euro-Ku. Derived, naturally from the Japanese poem (Haiku) but I’ve modified it to fit our western thought, culture and spirituality. I do admire tremendously the spirituality and the culture of the East, but I was born in the West and I wasn’t put in the West to live as an Easterner. Our experiences are not the same therefore our way of expressing emotions, feelings, well, life, is different. So I came up on the 2nd of February 2022 with the “Euro-Ku.”

The Euro-Ku follows the pattern of the Haiku only in that it is formed with three verses. However, the verses do not have a syllable limitation, they can be as long as you want to make them, but they must flow, seamlessly and coherently into each other. Thoughts cannot go floating out into the wind. And, most importantly, it must be accompanied by an original, unedited illustration, property of the author. It can be a photograph, a drawing, a painting, digital art or anything else that illustrates and relates to the meaning and intention of the poem.

(Photograph is “Cross of May” by Francisco Bravo Cabrera/All Rights Reserved)

Euro-Ku: «Gertrude Mountainmom»

(Image property of FBC, Omnia Caelum Studios Valencia, All Rights Reserved)

This kiss of Judas in inmate’s clothes, this “look” that scares away the sparrows,

these waiting days that spiral to the bottom of a hole have reached the marrow,

and I’ve have carved in bone your portrait, oil on canvas, rust on gold, owls and seagulls to behold…

C.2022, Francisco Bravo Cabrera, 06 MAR 2022, Valencia, España

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As an artist, I have always been engaged in «the search», and it usually leads me to the place I want to be and to the things I want to discover. I have always said that…to me…all art is poetry, therefore I am a poet, a craftsman that constructs with feelings, emotions, rhymes, rhythms, lines, colours and human interactions.

The Euro-Ku is the result of one of those searches…or should I say the incessant search…and I’ve embraced its capacity to express, clearly and coherently, in everyday speech and form, some not so clear, precise or coherent ideas. It is like arranging abstract thoughts into figurative images, well defined and easily interpreted.

See the original article explaining this poetic form: https://paintinginvalencia.wordpress.com/2022/02/23/my-new-poetic-invention-the-euro-ku/

I hope you enjoy it.

FOLLOW ME:

Web/Gallery: https://www.fbcart.wixsite.com/jazzart

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Artist Representative: “By Guloshka”

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E-Mail: guloshka404@gmail.com

#poem, ¿Olvidar? Para qué… (Euro-Ku)

(«JazzPiano» obra de Francisco Bravo Cabrera/Derechos Reservados)

Las apariencias engañan, las sonrisas conspiran, los abrazos te entierran el puñal hasta el corazón y las caricias van una a una arrancándote la piel,

y aunque lo niegues sigues siendo el piano y yo las teclas blancas y negras, desteñidas y desafinadas,

así que ¿Para qué olvidar? Si ya ni me acuerdo de la ultima melodía que, sentada frente a ti, sobre mis teclas improvisó para hacer llorar a las flores?

(C.2023, Francisco Bravo Cabrera, terminado el 13 de mayo de 2023, Valencia, España)

#poem, «TRAINS» (A Euro-Ku)

(Art Digital by FBC/All Rights Reserved)

Where do the northbound trains go when north is east and south is west and north is just a concept to consolidate all those thoughts that go unchallenged by our intellect and supported by our emotions?

Who will stand guard while the wise men sleep?

Why do so many stand at the station, waiting for the train to go northward, if they stand on their heads they are north and south is an illusion…

(C.2023, Francisco Bravo Cabrera, 28 MAY 2023, Valencia, Spain)

Music for a Sunday…

(Somewhere on the Mediterranean coast/All Rights Reserved)

My friends from the US told me about this great song! And I fully agree with the message. Don’t you?

Tres Euro-Kus, que no son mas que notas que he perdido en mis canciones…

(Foto propiedad de FBC, Omnia Caelum Studios Valencia, Derechos Reservados)*

* Foto de 2001, cuando tocaba con mi grupo, AJA, que son las siglas en ingles de Abstract Jazz Arrangement, o sea, el arreglo de jazz abstracto o el abstracto arreglo del jazz, vale, vosotros decidiréis…

Gracias…

Sígueme:

Web/Gallery: https://www.fbcart.wixsite.com/jazzart

YouTube: https://www.YouTube.com/@FranciscoBravoCabrera

Instagram: @Francisco_Bravo_Cabrera

Twitter (X): @euskadi_bakero

Artist Representative: “By Guloshka”

Instagram: @Guloshka

E-Mail: guloshka404@gmail.com

#poem, «AGATHA» (Euro-Ku)

(Photography by Francisco Bravo Cabrera/All Rights Reserved)

(We live as the hours that surround us die)

Time passes through our tranquil sea and we grow older, and love is no longer the wave that lifted us to the sky, it’s now the comforting warmth of the waters that surrounds us as we try,

with each word, with each wink, from tired eyes, and worn out speech, to brighten and enlarge those little rays of sun from years ago that time has stolen as she flies,

and everything we feel has changed, and what was once pure passion is now a distant thought because years ago to touch your hand, to steal a kiss…

C.2023, Francisco Bravo Cabrera, 04 JUN 2023, Valencia, Spain

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The Euro-Ku I developed (or invented) on the 2nd of February 2022 to try to create, with my Western, European mind, the nuances and the strength that lies within the traditional Japanese Haiku. I took this route because I can, in no way, even begin to think like an Oriental. Our life experiences are different as is our culture and our history. Therefore, to honour this poetic form I had to make it fit the Western mindset.

I decided that the three verse structure was ideal because it required using the power of synthesis, but instead of a strict syllabic count, I would make my verses flow and ebb as long as needed. And they must flow into each other concisely and coherently, one building on the other but without ideas or words that just float away.

And the poem must be accompanied by the poet’s own illustration, photograph or painting. However, it must be the property of the poet and unedited.

That is all it takes to write a Euro-Ku. If you are from the American continent (meaning North, Central and South America) you might want to apply these guidelines and create your own Ameri-Ku based upon your history, culture and experience.

Cheers…

#poem, «She Comes in Colours» (A Euro-Ku)

(Photo by Francisco Bravo Cabrera/All Rights Reserved)

Colours fly like smoke from fancy cigarettes,

they wrap around your ears,

they drift above your head, and kiss you tenderly on ruby lips,

then rip your flesh with swords of amethyst,

with nails of absinthe…

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And with yellow strands of yellow stones

they tie your hands, they break your bones…

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And pink reflections,

thoughts and lies,

return you home

to where you hide…

C.2023, Francisco Bravo Cabrera, 31 JUL 2023, Valencia, Spain

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I created the Euro-Ku, (02/02/2022), a unique poetic form blending the traditional haiku and European themes. It consists of three verses of whatever length you want to make them and requires an original illustration. Explore the beauty and heritage of Europe through the Euro-Ku.

Euro-Ku: «Madrid»

(Foto propiedad de FBC, Omnia Caelum Studios Valencia, Derechos Reservados)

Gota a gota rompo en las riberas, astutas, implacables, subterráneas,

y como el fuego, todo lo consumo, lo deseo,

Y como el agua, todo lo que quema yo lo apago.

C.2022, Francisco Bravo Cabrera, 28 de febrero de 2022, Valencia, España

Nota Bene:

Recordareis que hace poco tiempo os presenté al «EURO-KU», un estilo poético que he venido desarrollando con el cual le hago un homenaje al Haiku tradicional, pero con sabor europeo, al estilo occidental, explotando nuestra cultura, nuestro sintaxis, nuestra manera de comunicar y filosofar artísticamente. Pare hacer un «Euro-Ku» tenéis que que comenzar con una imagen original e inédita y de ella sacaras tres versos. No importa cuan largo puedan ser los tres versos, pero si deben estar escrito en un lenguaje claro, coherente y fácil de leer y entender, mas o menos, os diría, como la letra de una canción popular.

Gracias…

Conéctate

Web/Gallery: https://www.fbcart.wixsite.com/jazzart

YouTube: https://www.YouTube.com/@FranciscoBravoCabrera

Instagram: @Francisco_Bravo_Cabrera

Twitter (X): @euskadi_bakero

Artist Representative: “By Guloshka”

Instagram: @Guloshka

E-Mail: guloshka404@gmail.com

#poem, LIFE IS WORTH NOTHING (Euro-Ku)

(Photo by and property of Francisco Bravo Cabrera/All Rights Reserved – The western coast of the island of Chios, Greece 2022)

So that others can have, so that they can enjoy, so that others can taste what one savours and loves,

that’s the reason for life, that’s the essence of living,

and if I linger and wait for someone to take my place and give from the soul, give from the heart, life is worth nothing…

C.2023, Francisco Bravo Cabrera, 8 de junio de 2023, Valencia, España