-------------------------------------------------------- THE TALES OF AYELSFARN (An Aethereal Menagerie) (Second Edition) Copyright 1991 by Robert Bryan Reinhardt -------------------------------------------------------- Includes all original and revised poetry and prose -------------------------------------------------------- The Tales of Ayelsfarn; An Aetherial Managerie I (1985) The Tales of Ayelsfarn; An Aetherial Managerie II (1991) Copyright 1985, 1991 by Robert Bryan Reinhardt ISBN 0-8059-2988-6 -------------------------------------------------------- .c2. Introduction to THE TALES OF AYELSFARN Hello, netlanders. I recently found the "rec.arts.poems" newsgroup and it seems that this is the appropriate place to post my material. I hope the format of these posts are okay, I chose to do it this way so that (1) those people who may want to keep a couple individual poems, do not have to store the entire book; and (2) for continuity of the entire book as a whole, for reference purposes. The TALES OF AYELSFARN all combined is approximately 60 pages in manuscript form. As you will notice from the title page, this material is from the SECOND EDITION of the book. For those of you who have material from the FIRST EDITION, there are only minor type-correction changes to that text. (The FIRST EDITION was 41 pages). Since I subsidized the publication of my book, it did not gain wide distribution. This newsgroup is the answer to my distribution problem. I thank all that are responsible for my use of their bandwidth. All of this material may be distributed freely, so long as the material is not changed in any way, and continues to include the title page showing the copyright notice. As always, all rights concerning this material is exclusively owned by Robert Bryan Reinhardt. The following is the text on the book jacket, as written by my publisher: THE TALES OF AYELSFARN: AN AETHEREAL MENAGERIE by Robert Bryan Reinhardt "Magic and Christianity, love and fate, fear and hope: these are just a few of the subjects Robert Bryan Reinhardt explores in this collection of poems. Opening and concluding with works about Aylesfarn, a mysterious wizard who lives in an ivory and platinum castle, the poems comprise a wide-ranging and thoughtful "Journal of Tales." The young poet--Reinhardt is 20--ponders eternal questions and problems of life in poems such as "A Look Ahead" and "Inner Rumblings," and expresses the pain of love in "In Tears and Out of Love" and "A Soul Unclad." In "Summum Bonum" and the final prose work, "Ayelsfarn and the Final Judegement," he writes about his strong Christian faith. His works range from the simple--in "Dear Cousins" he tells readers of their charms--to the metaphysical and complex in "Logick Within a Circle of Symmetry" ("...ever seeking to find an equanimity/Among smooth passion, coarse calculation, and sound conclusions"). Historic images color much of Reinhardt's work: he draws on ancient Greek myths, traditional Christian motifs, and medieval adventures and language in his poems. Several of the thirty-two poems in this collection have been published in poetry anthologies." DEDICATION ---------- This book and much of the poetry within is dedicated to and inspired by: Kelly Ann Hamrick (circa 1984-1985...and beyond). About the Author ---------------- "Robert Bryan Reinhardt was born on December 5, 1964 in Baltimore, Maryland. He is a graduate of Edgewood High School, Edgewood, Maryland. He entered active duty in the U.S. Navy in June of 1983 and attended basic training at Great Lakes, Chicago. He attended Operations Specialist Class "A" School, graduating with honors and finishing number one in his class and number two in his graduating group. Petty Officer Second Class Reinhardt currently serves on the USS Virginia which is homeported in Norfolk, Virginia." (Jacket design by Elliot Hoffman)--ISBN 0-8059-2988-6 ***Authors NOTE: The publisher wrote that in 1985. For those who are at all curious I have been out of the Navy since (March 1988). I'm not really interested in going into a long speech about myself. The above was only included to (1) give you a background on the book itself, and (2) since I'm going to do this, I want to do it right, and put everything into this posting at one time. On the material itself, the FIRST EDITION was written when I was between the ages of 15 to 19 years old. The new material added into the book for the SECOND EDITION was written when I was between the ages of 19 to 21 years old. (At the time of this posting I am 27 years old...yes, I haven't written any new poetry/prose for about 5 years). Some of the material in the SECOND EDITION may seem to be inconsistent with the tone and attitude of the FIRST EDITION. That is because, (1) I began writing lyrics to rock songs for some friends who were in bands at the time, and (2) because my attitude did change...obviously that is reflected somewhat. Today, I am a product of both of those "attitudes." I hope that you will enjoy these poems, I am told that there is something in my collection for everyone. The following is a listing of the Table of Contents, in order to give you a sense of continuity of the entire book taken as a whole: *****Chapter 1- Selected Poetry (Jeanne Theresa) In tears and out of love Know ye Woe to that rough grain of sand A soul unclad Letter in memoriam *****Chapter 2 - Selected Poetry (Kelly Ann) A season's offering Image of you Desperation Torn A shell of sorrow Trifles I & II Tossed emotion A more complete poise *****Chapter 3 - The Windstone Madrigals The windstone Inner Rumblings I & II Logick within a circle of symmetry Poet *****Chapter 4 - The Bible Belt Summum Bonum A look ahead Ayelsfarn and The Final Judgement *****Chapter 5 - The Aetherworld The Elder Ayelsfarn For the aetherworld An account of my bereavement and journey to To the aetherworld Shivering child The tale of the dead man Enhanced dream Moonlight dream O'Bryan *****Chapter 6 - The Reflections Time to reflect Ashes all around me To all graduates Query upon first sight Eden by the bay Dear cousins Nuke'm 'til they glow The bubble *****Chapter 7 - The Mysteries Beware Both of us fools Fighting in the streets One small gift Entropy The land of Cockayne The midnight howl Time to get away The Talons of Time *****Chapter 8 - Miscellany Quatrains: I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X Meter value formula (satire) *****Chapter 9 - Rock and Roll All night lover Subway Old friends -------------------------------------------------------- / / /__,_ _ o ____ /_ __. __ /_) (_