Echoes Through Time - Softcover

Bernauer, Gitta

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1490792384 ISBN 13: 9781490792385

Publisher: Trafford Publishing, 2018

Synopsis

This book contains a collection of my poems that span approximately forty years. It was and remains my personal journey into introspective soul-searching and connecting with the universe. It delves into the metaphysical milieu, as well as the natural world as I know and perceive it to be. Since early age, I felt a certain connection that I was unable to express. However, poetry was my vehicle to enable me to do so. In sharing my poetry, I sincerely hope it will be uplifting to those who read them.

About this title

About the Author

I was born in Haagen Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany on April 7, 1951 and immigrated to Toronto, Canada in 1957 with my family. Writing poetry has been part of my life since childhood. In 1983 I moved to northern Ontario where I still reside. Nature has been a significant influence in my life as well as the spiritual connection to the universe.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Echoes Through Time

By Gitta Bernauer

Trafford Publishing

Copyright © 2018 Gitta Bernauer
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-4907-9238-5

CHAPTER 1

Candle

Tiny white droplets of wax
Enlaced with gradual intention
Meek and forbearing
In their humble descent
Between times lingering
Lingering, one second, two
The artisan within pondering
Which direction should I take?


Feather

Once enlightened
Now extinguished by the moon
Mantled in darkness, abeyance
A feather now revealed
Draped in white and grey
Gliding from that celestial scene
Phantom of the shadows, now a wandering soul
An ornament unburdened
Only for those who want to see
Bohemian by nature, perpetual transformation
Decreed the Keeper of the Muse

Lifting the facade of hypocrisy
Floating gently downward, audaciously
Below on hallowed ground stands a candle free
With fallow tip quenched out
A relic from the past encouraged now to see
Unravelling life's mystery
Responsive to its need, fading into history
Redeemed to its reality
Now bathed in light, renewed for all to see!


Cherished

In the garden dwelled a single rosebud
So beautiful, unique, so alone
Amidst an array of exotic blooms
Five delicate petals fl exible in the wind
Caressing the sun's warmth.

Intimate with the moon's light
Its scent so rare
Prickly thorns displayed
Its survival, natural selection.

Patiently awaiting its admirer
Held in particular esteem
Gently picked and forever cherished
For now it was a rose.


Crusaders on a Quest

From beyond the willows,
Shades of pale-green hue caressing the breeze,
Yonder came the riders,
Crusaders of souls,
They so proclaimed!
Knights to their glory,
Into view they came, gallant, determined,
Determined to play the game.
Perhaps mystical, shrouded,
Fragile intentions eluded

To a realm of imminent doom;
Lives taken needlessly
While whispering the name of the Lord.
These men of the cloth from days of yore,
Knights they be not!
But reapers of the land,
Destroying, fragmenting what we know of man!
Are they history or legend be?
It matters not! In the end, the realization,
This never, ever left,
And the thought remains, as truth be taught,
Where did they go astray?


Beyond the Mist

Beyond the mist,
Where shadows dwell,
Images of light persist.
Darkness surrenders
To the winding road,
Leading to a forest dense.
Glowing embers alive,
Insight into one's soul,
Whispering sounds of peace,
Understanding of self,
A realm hidden from the past.
Reaching beyond boundaries set,
The past's reality awakens
With heaven's warmth,
Now extended within,
Experiencing infinite energy.
Our spirits have now met,
Embraced in one another's bliss.


Echoes

Warm grains of sand underfoot
Infi nite in their display
Bathed in moonlight
Glistening beneath the stars
Enveloped by melodic echoes
Of the Spanish guitar
A gift of passion shared
Tomados de la caminamos
Ocasional a lo largo de la playa
Each wave, a greeting
From the spirit of the sea
Cherished by humanity
Courage, an ardent quest
Beyond the gloaming
We will be beloved
For all eternity.


The Keeper

In the distance, off the rocky shore
Stood an ancient Celtic lighthouse
Resting upon the island alone,
Accompanied by its keeper.

The beacon of hope,
Be it in the sea of tranquility
Or conquering storms,
His courage is the guiding light.

Serenity calms his spirit
For yet another fortnight.
Within this milieu,
Beneath the canopy of twinkling stars,
While the moonlit sea gleams,
The infinite galaxy of Milky Way,
Where seabirds freely soar languidly
Into the midnight sky,
His soul's reflection
With endless depth
Captured my heart; serendipity!


Love or Romance

She stroked his aging face,
Fingertips guided by gentle lines
Deep from life's long path.
Untold stories now unfold,
No special sequence, no time.
Romance, one's great love,
One's great defeat, to meet;
Torn between the two
When, in the ending of it all,
The deepest infinite line
Portraying love
Was the result of man's greatest grief!


An Autumn Eve

Relaxing in the evening shade,
Enjoying memories of days now past,
Feeling the cool, fresh autumn breeze,
Among the ancient willow trees.
Walking gradually toward the stream,
Reflections of the moon are seen.
Gazing upwards, so far away,
Northern lights danced with the Milky Way.
Fallen branches with withered leaves

Drifted casually in search of harmony.
Gracefully perched upon a limb,
A lonesome blue heron slept peacefully.
Enveloped gently by the hands of time,
This passive soul now sauntered by.
Having found the well-worn path,
She perpended over life's repose,
Her arms extended in earnest quest,
Embracing eternity,
The final rest.


Unveiled

On the edge of the dream,
Lingered an aura of serenity,
Woven from fragments of reality,
Though driven unconsciously,
A resurgence of familiarity,
Pointing to aspects of underlying frailty.
The Achilles' heel sees daybreak,

From the realm of the shadow,
Never to be eluded,
Cast aside by vulnerability,
Enhancing love and light,
Expanding consciousness,
Departing from masked illusions,
Healing the child within,
Embracing love divine.


Illumination

A golden hue embraced your tender face,
In gentle illumination,
The passage to our souls,
Guided by a higher entity.

Within the depths of mutual perception,
A spiritual awakening ensued,
Warmth and acceptance led the way,
Surpassing the human endeavour.

Your eyes are the lighthouse to my soul,
Therein dwells enduring love,
A constant reflection of you,
Melding together is a journey,
Of mutual bliss!


Eagle

From above, serenity was seen
Floating in silence,
Spreading both wings,
Gliding into view,
Above the deep green,
Reaching mightily,
Exchanging shadows with,
The monarch of the sky,
For a mere moment
On that particular eve.


Truth

Look around and what you see
Are chaotic souls afire
Sense of truth in this reality
Draped in coats of greed and power
Now members of the Club, "Miscreant".
All senses left behind
Internally distraught
If they'd stop and really look

And search for the light
The affirmation of the truth
The opposite of greed is love
As our teacher reveals
His power is steadfast and true
They cried out for help
He answered their call
"Embrace me," he urged
"For I am your lifelong friend."


Journey Home

Wandering through the mind's inner eye
Searching for thoughts lost
Encountering fragments of momentary reflect
On happiness.

Bliss, harmony, tender heart
Inner strength, an ardent friend
Grasping past glimpses of solitude
While on the path endured.

Footsteps treading cautiously
As the moon's smile glances
In the direction opposite
Enabling the state of sleep.

Dreams escape to reality
Meeting past, present, and future
Crossing the threshold with ease
As heart, mind, and soul
Embrace peace.


Friendship

Friendship, the golden key
Held by those of antiquity
Compassion, the treasured pathway
Open our hearts amid the misery
As the mirror reflects humanity.

Let universal bondage be the way
Felt by all as witnesses
To this widespread tragedy
Hope comes forth from within.

May each tear we shed
Remind us of our frailty
Let us all be selfless
In our own unique way.

Prayers given up for all the perished
And those astray
To be reunited with family, friends
To the open arms
Of our true humanity.


Solitary

The heart and soul of every man
Is mirrored by the light
Interfacing his reality
Of yet a different kind.

His gentle hands extending
To reach that ending point
Whispers are relinquished
Through tears shed years ago.

Alone and often worried
He walks the face of earth
Watching for the signals
Of those who walked before.

Gentle images awakening
The depths of his very soul
His inner spirit remembers
That long walk to the end
To the end of that very road.
Reflecting on life's experiences
Imprinted on that man,
He has conquered solace,
From within his very soul.


Shooting Star

Down the trail steadily,
With a carefree spirit,
Going with the flow.

Meandering through the valley trails,
Beneath a canopy of joy,
Breathing in the air of awakening.

No longer a restless soul,
You come upon a meadow green,
The sun illuminating your journey there.

Pausing for reflection,
You gently place your cycle, blue,
Against the nearby ash wood tree.

Your shoulder finds comfort there,
When an overwhelming inner urge,
Sees you gazing toward the heavens,
As a shooting star passes overhead,
It all makes sense!


Soul Mates

From deep within came a sigh,
Euphoric in nature,
Blissful in rhyme,
Intense beyond the realm of words,
As the two souls intertwined.

Floating beyond the natural world,
Known as heaven in their minds' eye,
Cherishing the moment in this eternity,
There they dwelled in harmony,
Soul mates evermore.


Awakening

Within my heart
Shadows assembled collectively
With acquiescent sighs, reveille
To the depths of my soul
Having dwelled in disarray
Now filled with bliss
As your tender-hearted spirit
Found mine reflective.


The Runner

In the early hours of each day,
His shadow passes by my way;
His stride is constant, paced,
Breathing rhythmically, self-control.

Daily, alone, solitude,
At the mercy of nature's temperament,
Oftentimes I question why.
So elusive yet defined,
The runner in me sighs;
Fatigue has led the way.

For brief moments in our lives,
Your shadow passes by
With a glance
And a shared acknowledgement;
What truly is your quest?


Sentience

One's inner voice, solemn
Arising from spiritual depths
Enlightened, searching
Glimpses of past encounters
Life's acknowledgements
Embracing, experiencing unison
Understanding, pondering
Perpetual interaction
Blissful, whimsical
Familiar entities drifting
Into the warmth within
Encompassing truths
Once withdrawn, now touching
Heart's regality
Unspoken desires fulfilled
Extending beyond daily trivialities

Assured of one's destined reality
Intermittent stepping stones
Heart, mind, soul
Fervent in their quest
To put the past to rest
Ascending to simplicity
Tears, fears forgotten
Having found his way
No longer complacent
Reaching past the shadows
Beginning definitive bonding
Permitting time to slip graciously by
Emphasizing the eternal sigh
Acceptance is the way
The key to love's sanctuary.


Neptune

Beneath the ocean's surface
Where Neptune rules the sea
Could be heard the alluring echoes
From the sirens of the deep,
Heard clearly
As the tide water hits the shore
Passing by Davy Jones's locker
Into the nether world below
Enchanting, timeless
Thereupon the greeting
From the mermaid of your dreams
United now forever
In the deep blue sea.


The Old Cross Keys Inn

Along the road from Belfast to Derry
There rests the Old Cross Keys Inn,
Having endured three hundred years of history,
With the inviting gesture of a thatched roof,
The worn pathway
Displayed brown cobblestones,
Gracefully leads to a latched door.
Permeated within its uneven walls
And fatigued stone floors,

Enchanting and warm,
As the fireplace sits centre stage,
Its hearth a welcome sight,
Unseen spirits of days gone by
Are a comforting thought.
A dark shadow lingered at the doorway.
An invitation was uttered from within
As the gentle wind rustled through the trees:
"Do come in" and "Choose a seat."
The gallery hosted a gathering;
Despite that, he found a place,
Front row center.
He indeed was pleased!


Magic

With eyes so bright and true,
I came upon this Irish lad
Leaning comfortably against
An old gas lamppost;
His shadow intertwined
With the light above,
Streaming magically
Upon the path below.
Mirrored sanity in his eyes
Showed a loving soul,
Divine and altruistic.
His smile reflected
Endless awareness,
Subtle yet subdued.
His hand reached out
For mine in love.

(Continues...)

Excerpted from Echoes Through Time by Gitta Bernauer. Copyright © 2018 Gitta Bernauer. Excerpted by permission of Trafford Publishing.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

Edition details

• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Publication date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1490792384
• ISBN 13: 9781490792385
• Binding: Paperback
• Illustrator: Sollano Gennel Marie
• Number of pages: 50