Aphorisms of a Restless Soul

By Luis Alexandre Ribeiro Branco

According to the dictionary aphorism is a terse saying embodying a universal truth, or astute observation, as “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely” However, my understanding of aphorism comes from Rubem Alves, a great chronicler, poet and writer from Brazil. Rubem Alves presented aphorism as the root of his marvelous writings.

Therefore, inspired by Rubem Alves, aphorism became the best form to define my way of writings. I am sure that I would miss in any poetry contest and I would fail any poetry professional evaluation. I am not sure if I am a poet or not, but I am sure that I love to write the way I write. Perhaps, this is my great mistake, but I don ́t stress to write poetry, I just let the words fill my mind and then I put them in a written form.

What you will find in this book is the expression of my inner self.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Luis Alexandre Ribeiro Branco
• Release date: Jan 4, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310865787

Luis Alexandre Ribeiro Branco

Prof. Dr. Luis Alexandre Ribeiro Branco, D.Mim., PhD, is a Portuguese citizen, married for nearly 15 years and the father of two beautiful girls. Born in the city of Petropolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in January 1974. However, his paternal grandparents are of Azorean origin. He holds a Degree in Biblical and Theological Studies (BA), Master of Church Administration and Leadership (MA), both at Trinity Seminary in Newburgh, Indiana, USA, has the Degree of Doctor of Honoris Causa Ministry (D.Min.) at Centre For Contemporary Christianity do John Stott - The London Institute for Contemporary Christianity em Bangalore, India, Christianity branch in Bangalore, India and a Doctor Degree in Philosophy and Apologetics (Ph.D) also from Trinity Seminary. His works include acting as a local parishioner, writer and professor at the Baptist Theological Seminary in Queluz, Portugal. He is a member of the Society of Christian Philosophers, member of the Portuguese Philosophical Society, member of the Brazilian Society of Poets Aldravianistas, member of Movimiento Poets Del Mundo, member of the Portuguese Association of Poets, member of the Brazilian Union of Writers, member of the Academy of Letters and Arts Portugal, member of the Academy of Letters and Arts Lusophone having as patron António Augusto Soares de Passos, member of the Brazilian Academy Luminescence having as patron Pio Lourenço Correa. He is associated with the Administrative Board of Missions of the National Baptist Convention in Brazil. Dr. Branco has served as a missionary in India, New Zealand and Norway, which provided him a significant cross-cultural experience. His theology is reformed and as a poet, he has a melancholy style along the lines of the ultra-romantic poets of the nineteenth century, He describes himself as a humanist characterized by the idea that the man only reaches its true essence through the knowledge of God. Dr. Branco lives in Cascais, Lisbon, Portugal, with his family and have works published in the areas spirituality, theology, philosophy and anthology.

Book preview

Friendship never ends

Friendship is a mysterious encounter that takes place in the soul,

In my soul and yours simultaneously like if we’re soul mates.

When friendship reaches the mystical level of this meeting,

Their given hands are never separated again.

There is nothing more beautiful than friendship,

It overshadows all other beauties that exist around us.

Friendship is an indivisible light, majestic, to which all other lights folds.

In friendship we have the unique possibility of plebeians to enjoy the feelings of royalty.

In friendship the souls crowned each other,

In friendship we are all kings and queens,

In friendship we are all special,

In friendship there is only goodness.

Friendship knows no color, nationality, race and social level,

Friendship knows no age and gender,

Friendship knows no distance.

It is never too far away to someone in love.

True friendship follows us throughout our whole life,

True friendship knows no end of the road,

True friendship is immortalized in the meeting that took place in the soul,

And now, even without seeing you, we go our own way hand in hand,

In our realm that is an everlasting spring.

Awake

Awake all ye possessors of life!

The day dawned, came silently full of surprises,

Good, bad, indifferent, but for each of these possibilities the poets wrote poetries,

So you wake up bravely face what comes,

Because you will not be alone.

Every pain is repeated in other places and other lives,

Every joy is repeated in other places and other lives,

Each indifference is repeated in other places and other lives,

Therefore, weeping or laughing you are not alone.

Awake all ye possessors of life because one day you will’ll be no more and will stop hearing the awakening of the poet!

Women’s face

Your face expresses a simple majesty,

Your look is that of a captive princess,

Your lips have a slight smile and

This shows your glory of being a woman.

A mysterious woman lives within you,

A connoisseur of the secrets of the woman's life shines in your face,

A sweet and strong woman, independent and yet weak,

A mystical and desirable woman.

I see in you the appetite of men,

I see in you the beauty of a black rose,

I see in you unknown mysteries,

I see in you a woman and her secret.

Freedom

Every soul yearns for freedom,

A freedom with which modern humanity committed.

A freedom that a few centuries ago had not even imagined.

A freedom of going, coming, thinking, believing following, giving up,

Anyway, a freedom not seen, worthy of the human being.

Every soul yearns trap,

A mad desire to keep captives all others that is similar or dissimilar to us.

We hallucinated imagine a prison as good and pleasant,

A prison for women, children, poor and weak through inhibition of their