Sunday, October 17, 2010

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!!

13 comments:

ochikeron said...

Hi jo! Nice to see you up here with beautiful freindship poem post! I can understand what he has meant to you :)

Time flies. It's again autumn. Beautiful seasonal pictures as usual!!!

Unknown said...

Jo,

Beautiful Fall picture that you posted.Is it maple tree??

Times flies..

I'm sorry about your mentor..Hope he gain peace in other world..

Jo Janoski said...

Lovely tribute!

Jo A. T.B. said...

Thanks Ochi There are many folks in this world who I admire as much as Jim!! He was unique and special! Glad you liked the fall pics!!

Jo A. T.B. said...

Hi Jose,
The header is Maples, aren't they gorgeous! They haven't started to turn yet, a photo from last fall! Soon though!! The read leaf trees are taken from my yard, thought they were pretty! Hubby says they're poison sumac tree!! Yes I know Jim has found peace, and can't wait to talk to him in the other world!!

Jo A. T.B. said...

thanks Jo appreciate you!!

terrymcdermott said...

Great post. Nice to see you on my blog once again my friend.

Nazarina A said...

Jo,

You always have the most beautiful things to say about the people you love & you even wrote a poem for him! I am really lucky to have you as a friend! I think that he is smiling down upon you!

Jo A. T.B. said...

Thanks Terry Good to see you!!

Jo A. T.B. said...

Naz,

Jim was a wonderful Poet friend, who I'll miss in the writer circuit! He gave so much to us, with his imagery and words. I'm the lucky one to have been able to share my poems with him, and also to have a sweet friend like you!!! Hugs xoxo!!

Robinson Roy Hartsell said...

It is interesting to read your comments. Unfortunately, Jim wasn't really what you would call my friend. I wish it were so, but I no longer knew him well - it had been years since we had any semblance of a relationship. No doubt he loved writing poetry, perhaps more than anything else.

I'm glad to know that he had a community of friends that appreciated him and miss him. I for one, have missed him for years.

Son of Wintersong

Jo A. T.B. said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jo A. T.B. said...

I sure can relate, I also missed my father for many years. I don't know if it was that era, or how they were raised or in my father's case abused, that contributed to their absences.

Like you his newfound friends told me great things, but I remember vividly and differently, knowing my own dad was someone I really never knew at all.

I was full of bitterness for a long time for many reasons, but in the end finally let the bitterness go and forgave him.

Your father was a great Poet/Writer admired by many! I'm very thankful to have known him. As a writer I can understand the feeling of wanting to write more than anything else. I guess it's a writer thing!

Nice to meet you, my condolences, and thanks for your comments.

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