The collection of Célébrades: Poems was published by Les impliqués in the spring of 2021. It unveils the very intimate and classical universe of its author, Bernard Anton. The main themes found in this book are the contemplation of nature, the celebration of love, the acknowledgment of death (and renewal), the simplicity of everyday scenes, pleasure, ecology, and the urgency to escape and discover the world. The man behind the book is multidisciplinary: a professor of theology, author, and even a Quebecois therapist.
To depict all aspects of existence, the writer Bernard Anton chooses the haiku. Through this brief and light-form Japanese poem, the poet aims to capture the soul of Brigitte Bardot and portray his vision of this muse whom he considers “immortal.” His heroine is not the only focus; the goal is also to capture the wonder and uniqueness of each everyday element.
Bernard Anton, being a figure heavily involved in environmental protection and nature in general, uses his Art to make Brigitte Bardot an emblem for his ideas: a free woman dedicated wholly to defending animals and the planet Earth. The collective imagination associates her with her romantic passions and constant quest for freedom, her defiance of non-conformity, and her obsession with serenity. Despite Brigitte Bardot’s extraordinary and untouchable status in this collection, environmentally conscious readers concerned about climate issues will feel close to the muse and the poet. A particularly notable passage states: “Spirit of justice / infinite compassion / the animal testifies.”
This collection could be a compilation of diverse observations. While Brigitte Bardot opens the set, it also delves into winter, the only one of the four seasons to receive a complete section: the Hivernades. The author distances himself from “classical and traditional poetic decorum” by deliberately deviating, considering the haiku and its syllables. For example, in the section devoted to the coldest period of the year, Bernard Anton experiments with a quintil: “Minus fifteen / Japanese sparrow in trance / warbles on the branch / what does it imply up there? / lament or rapture?”
Even though the poet divides his collection into several themes, it’s undeniable that each intertwines with another, like a tentacled monster. For instance, the Amourades blend the emotions and feelings associated with romantic vertigo with nature’s beauty: “full moon tonight / inhabit the plenitude / of your thoughts.” The subjects are not strictly separated from one another.
This collection is thus a tree with closely connected branches. Even the simplest daily events deserve presence, through the poet’s lens in his Quotidienades: “waiting room / a song I enjoy / plays on the airwaves / the ensuing torrent of announcements / sabotages my pleasure.” The lightness of the form allows readers to precisely identify the scene described and, especially, the emotion the poet felt at the time of writing. This perfectly balanced collection also focuses on both wildlife and human society and the urban environment. In this context, it paints a daily life that is as sad as it is joyful, yet unfortunately threatened by a man’s disjointed ambitions obsessed with success and technological progress, even if it means sacrificing nature’s serenity to achieve his ends.
However, Bernard Anton’s Célébrades is not the work of a pessimist; quite the contrary. As the book subtly suggests, through an evocative and effective title, it is about praising and celebrating the beauty of all aspects of life, beginning with Brigitte Bardot, who embodies the noble causes and themes so dear to the author Bernard Anton. The style is pure, always raw and unadorned, humble in its execution. This multifaceted reading takes its readers on a journey, akin to a series of photographs taken in various places around the world, conveying complex yet simple emotions at the same time…
Bernard Anton presents and draws here a very poetic narrative, drenched in colors and situations that speak to everyone and all generations. A work that can be tied to current events, especially concerning the challenges related to ecology and the urgency to protect and defend animal rights. Through his own inspirations and by exploiting the image of his heroine Bardot, readers discover the entire world at different times of the year. How to live in this constantly changing world? What happens when you stop racing and rushing recklessly? When you stop mistreating untamed nature and decide to listen to it?
This is somewhat Bernard Anton’s goal, which seems discernible across the pages. This work can serve as an introduction to the world of poetry for skeptics. Rather than engaging in the complex reading of a work stifled by complexity, symbolism, and hidden messages, the writer does not waste time with convoluted formulas and gets straight to the point in his fluid and image-rich work. Humor is also present, along with the triviality of a life that is often taken “too seriously.”
Author’s website: [https://www.bernardanton.com/](https://www.bernardanton.com/)
