Remembrance For A Beautiful Poet Friend~ James C. Hartsell ~ Wintersong

Celebration

The morning sun burns through the gray,

billowing clouds majestically

and all those winter days

when fog crept thought the flats,

like sorrow,

yield in celebration.

My nostrils suck the pungent smells

of green-grass fields

and winter's brown decay.

My soul soars high,

an eagle circling earth and sky

in self-enhancing rapture.

And in this mystic place where all things rush,

like prayers,

the world is such a lover.

@James C. Hartsell ~ Wintersong

Excerpt from Jim's book ~ Visions From The Trail

I wanted to celebrate the vast work of a beautiful Poet friend, who I met years ago on the Lovestories forum. Sadly Jim passed last Spring, totally immersed in networking urgent dogs to rescues, I just got wind of his passing. The poem above is a favorite of mine taken from his book Visions From The Trail, which Jim sent me years ago. Jim always went by the pen name Wintersong.

Jim was my mentor, every writer's friend, and celebrated life in his humble and wonderful artistry of words, stories, and photography. Jim had an uncanny eye for imagery, beauty, and a wonderful humor that left a smile to all of us here in the internet writing world. Jim had many admirers, including me who was like a kid with candy reading all his new writings.

Jim was an inspiration to many poets, and will be sadly missed by all his writer friends. He had a special way of seducing words to draw you into his exceptional free spirited mind. You can read more of Jim's beautiful work here at his last writing stomping ground The Peaceful Pub ~ The Poetry of Wintersong Also the beautiful memorial pages created for Jim by The Peaceful Pub here: Wintersong's Memorial Pages Some great poetry and memorials wirtten there from some old and new friends!!!

In 2004 I wrote a poem for Jim, and had the pleasure of posting it on the Gypsywriter's forum. You must let people you love know how you feel about them. Never let a day pass by, and not tell someone how much they mean to you. I was very inspired by Jim's talent, and I let him know that he was special to me as a Poet friend. I'll never regret that, he was grateful as usual for any praise of his writing which he truly deserved.

My heart goes out to Jim's family, knowing he is still missed and will forever be! Here is the poem I wrote for my Poet friend Jim~

The Maestro

His
voice
speaks
tongues
of gold,
glimmering
sweet refrains,
painted from memory.

His
eyes..
seek
depths
immeasurable,
in perfect
sculpted metaphors,
integrated silver linings.

His
wisdom..
inspiring
literary
incantations,
eloquent words
of gifted verse,
eternally..
quilled upon my heart.

©Jo A. True-Burkholder 2004
In Loving Memory of my Poet Friend
James C. Hartsell ~~ Wintersong

Jim will always be that "eagle soaring earth and sky," and now he's flying in Heaven blessing the whole dang universe with his humorus, artistic and talented verse!!