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Untamed Heart - a Collaboration With John Derek Hamilton

My untamed heart, 
ruled by unruly wants
Sometimes in tatters, 
but flatters and taunts

I played at life...
but life played me harder,
Lived bet to debt...
in life's Russian roulette

Chorus
I'm like a ghost ship, 
stranded on breakers
searching for life, without any light
I rummage through...
my Psyches ruins
Dreams duel disasters, 
but give up the fight

I place a wager...
speed into danger
My foolish whims, 
scatter in mistral winds

Now tossed by waves, 
by blind forces of fate
How they orchestrate, 
time, distance and place

Bridge
Now all that's left...
lies fallow,
in fields of regret
Hopes of a new day... 
are shattered
by a doomed sunset


Chorus
I'm like a ghost ship, 
stranded on breakers
searching for life, without any light
I rummage through...
my Psyches ruins
Dreams duel disasters, 
but give up the fight

Outro
Dreams duel disasters, 
but give up the fight
Dreams duel disasters, 
but give up the fight

repeat and fade


John Derek Hamilton and Susan Ashley

(a collaboration)

composed November 26, 2021

(revised Nov. 29, 2021 – posted Nov. 30, 2021)


~ Poem Of The Day ~
   December 1, 2021
 *Celebrated on John Hamilton's page*


Poet’s note: my dear friend, John, it was both a pleasure, and indeed, a great honor to collaborate with you on this special and emotionally expressive song of an untamed heart. Thank you for your gracious invitation for my pen to join yours in lyrical artistry. Your song writing skills are ever impressive! I love what we’ve done here and it fills me with gratitude to share the creative page with you.


John’s poet note: This is a collaboration with Susan Ashley, excerpts taken from her Amberina Ballerina poem. One of the best writes I've ever read, check it out! 

Thanks Susan for your awesome work,  I loved this and have high hopes for this song!

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Fin Chuuk Date: 2/6/2023 6:05:00 PM Beautiful collaboration you two. I’m just pretending that I know the tune by humming along as I’m reading it. Lol. So awesome:) Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 2/7/2023 4:53:00 PM Dear Fin, I'm delighted that you've spent some time with an older poem. I hope that someday hear we can hear this collaboration, with my inspiring friend, John, set to music.. until then it's lovely to have you humming along with me. Thank you for the joy of your visit and for your heartwarming words. Warmest wishes, my friend.. ~Susan

Valsa George Date: 8/16/2022 3:46:00 AM "I played at life... but life played me harder, Lived bet to debt... in life's Russian roulette"..... Life often seems like a gamble and finally this is the sad predicament we land in....! We feel that we are a ghostship stranded by the breakers ! A doomed sunset with no more light in view and nothing to hope for ! The inevitable fate and conundrum of life are poignantly and powerfully captured ! When two talented poets got together, an epic of a poem is born ! Thumbs up to both of you.... Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 8/17/2022 7:51:00 AM Dearest Valsa, sweet lady, your precious thoughts touch me very deeply and I receive them with gratitude. I’m thrilled by your response to our lyric. John is an amazing poet and his songwriting talents shine in this expressive lyric, which was inspired by my poem "Amberina Ballerina". It was an honor and a pure delight to work with my wonderful friend, John. Thank you for sharing in the tumultuous emotions of this poem with us. Warmest wishes, my lovely friend.. ~Susan

Brian Sambourne Date: 7/2/2022 7:14:00 PM What a great write! The metaphors + similes are top notch throughout. ("I'm like a ghost ship stranded on breakers" - such a stark, memorable image.) Congratulations to both of you - fine poets indeed. Be well. Brian Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 7/2/2022 7:55:00 PM Hello Brian! So nice to see you. How was your cruise and how is your mom? She must be so glad you’re back. I’m so pleased you liked this lyric. My exceptional writing partner, John Hamilton, was a creative joy to collaborate with. This lyric was based on my poem Amberina Ballerina and John did a great job distilling it down into song form. Thank you again, my friend. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Jack Horne Date: 4/27/2022 6:35:00 AM this is amazing - you write so well together Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 4/30/2022 8:50:00 AM My dear friend, Jack, thank you for your gracious visit and heartwarming comments. John is a fantastic poet/songwriter and a wonderful friend, it was indeed a pleasure and a great honor to create this lyric with him. I'm so pleased to know you enjoyed this. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Malabika Ray Choudhury Date: 12/18/2021 4:47:00 PM Dearest Susan, a heartfelt congratulations to you and John on composing this great song! It is a POTD - of course it has to be! I feel inspired with the lyrical masterpieces from your gifted pen, and this song has demonstrated again your mastery of language and expressions. A great collaboration of two excellent poetic minds! Love and blessings ~ Mala Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 12/19/2021 4:30:00 PM Dearest Mala, thank you for your heartwarming comments and kind congrats. I am thrilled by your response to our collaboration. Your pen is gifted whether leaving inspiring feedback or composing your splendid poetry. John is a fantastic poet/songwriter and a wonderful friend, it was indeed a pleasure and a great honor to create this lyric with him. Warmest wishes and happy holidays to you and yours, sweet lady.. ~Susan

Alexis Y. Date: 12/4/2021 11:48:00 PM WoW! Susan, You and John have penned a top-notch collaboration. It's a lyrical masterpiece. I liked it very much. You two write well together. I found it to be sad but very well written. The chorus was exceptional. I most definitely would want to hear these stellar words set to music. Excellent job. Have an evening:-)Alexis Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 12/6/2021 6:11:00 PM My dear friend, Alexis, it’s so wonderful to see you. Thank you for your beautiful comments, they’re so heartwarming on this cold blustery night. I’m thrilled by your response to our lyric. John is an amazing poet and his songwriting talents shine in this expressive lyric. It was an honor and a pure delight to work with John. Like you, I can’t wait to hear this song set to music too :) Warmest wishes to you for a wonderful evening.. ~Susan

Susan Lawrence Date: 12/4/2021 4:52:00 PM Susan my friend, Such an intimate collaboration of heart , mind , space and time . Tears, tenderness, regret and longing ride the musical waves you have created together . Bravo ! Sending love and hugs to you. So happy to have found you here . Xx Susan :) Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 12/6/2021 5:45:00 PM Dearest Susan, I relish your visit and cherish your rich and precious comments. Thank you for sharing your exquisite thoughts with me. John’s amazing songwriting talent led the way for this wonderful collaboration. It was truly a pleasure to create this lyric with John. Your beautiful presence is ever appreciated here, my inspiring friend. Warmest wishes, love and hugs to you <3 ~Susan

Michelle Faulkner Date: 12/2/2021 6:02:00 PM Susan and John, this is just exquisite, so dark in blind fates and doomed sunsets, and those closing lines will indeed haunt me like a ghost~ Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 12/6/2021 5:35:00 PM My dear friend, Michelle, thank you. I am thrilled by your response to our collaboration. John is a fantastic poet/songwriter and a wonderful friend, it was indeed a pleasure and a great honor to create this lyric with him. Warmest wishes, poetess.. ~Susan

Andrea Dietrich Date: 12/2/2021 4:42:00 PM I saw this at John's page and thought: how fantastic is this!!! Also I see POTD. Big congrats, both of you Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 12/6/2021 5:23:00 PM Thank you, Andrea, for your lovely comments and heartwarming congrats. John is a terrific songwriter and a wonderful friend. It was such a pleasure to create this expressive lyric with him. Warmest wishes my friend.. ~Susan

Eve Roper Date: 12/1/2021 8:42:00 AM Susan, great collaboration from both you and John. Congratulations to both of you on your POTD! Have a wonderful Christmas my friend. Hugs Eve Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 12/6/2021 5:20:00 PM Thank you, Eve. Your uplifting comments and heartwarming congrats are truly appreciated. John is an awesome songwriter and a wonderful collaborator and it was a such a pleasure to create this lyric with him. Have a merry Christmas, my dear friend.. ~Susan

John Hamilton Date: 12/1/2021 7:45:00 AM Your writing was my inspiration Susan, I have been a little down and not motivated to write, but I feel this collaboration is the push, or the impetus to get back at it. It was my privilege and honor to work on this piece together, hope you receive all the accolades as well, this potd is a result of shared gifts! Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 12/6/2021 5:09:00 PM Dear John, it seems the magic of inspiration is even more enchanting when shared in creative collaboration and poetic friendship. Your songwriting soul is special and expressive, my wonderful friend. Indeed, this potd is a result of shared gifts, thank you for sharing your precious poetic gift with me. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Sotto Poet Date: 12/1/2021 7:33:00 AM Your poem was fantastic and rather encouraging; I appreciate it very much. Susan, you and John Hamilton have created an outstanding work of art. Collaborations of this kind elevate the quality of this exceptional poetry website. Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 12/6/2021 4:55:00 PM Dear Lasaad, your uplifting comments are truly appreciated. John is an immensely talented poet/songwriter. It was indeed a pleasure and great honor to create this expressive lyric with him. Thank you for your gracious visit, my friend. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Brenda Chiri Date: 11/30/2021 10:47:00 PM Oh my sane sissy I commented on johns piece and you two were amazing and quite inspiring! Party tonight and John is the guest unicorns must be locked up can’t afford a fire tonight:) I simply loved this! You make your insane sissy even more insane with your way with words! I’d say speechless but I think I’d be contradicting my comment! Haha! *sniffle* …*casually wipes a tear from my eyes;) Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 12/4/2021 7:59:00 PM Oh my insane sissy! I'm so glad the Unicorns finally found you and brought you home haha! But you know, when we party, the Uni's do not like being locked up and use their uni-horns to pick the locks!! haha! I've missed you, my twisty sissy <3 I'm so glad you enjoyed this collaboration with John. He is a joy to work with and his amazing talent led the way to this beautiful piece. Thank you for your awesome comments, please don't ever go speechless, I couldn't bear it :)) Love and hugs from your 'so glad to see you' and 'missing you', sane sissy

Brandy Nicole Date: 11/30/2021 8:25:00 PM Dear Susan, after reading this lyric on John's page, I wanted to share my thoughts on your page as well. I am in complete awe with your talent and his, as you combine words and create a masterpiece. "I'm like a ghost ship, stranded, searching for life" Such an empty feeling indeed. Maybe these words can be placed to music soon. Such a wonderful collaboration. Hugs, Brandy Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 12/4/2021 6:21:00 PM Dearest Brandy, my sweet friend, it is such a pleasure to receive your heartfelt comments. It was a wonderful honor to collaborate with my dear friend, John. His pen is as gifted as it is golden and I am truly humbled and appreciative that he chose to share his shining talent with me. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Robert Lindley Date: 11/30/2021 6:00:00 PM My dear friend , tis truly a wonderful collaboration that you and my friend John Hamilton have gifted us! Two fantastic poetics melding together to create a lyrical masterpiece! Such collaborations raise the bar here at this great poetry site, imho. A fav- a gem.. God bless... Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 12/4/2021 6:16:00 PM Dear Robert, thank you for such uplifting comments, they are received with much appreciation, as is the honor of your fav. I'm so pleased to know you enjoyed this collaboration with John. John was the driving force behind the creation of this expressive song and I am ever grateful he chose to share his amazing talent with me. Warmest wishes, my wonderful friend.. ~Susan

Frederic Parker Date: 11/30/2021 4:27:00 PM Really well done, dear poet dear friend, and to your writing partner...well done, I enjoyed it Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 12/1/2021 7:50:00 PM I relish your wonderful presence and heartwarming words, Frederic. I’m so pleased to know you enjoyed this collaboration. It was a pleasure and an honor to share the creative page with, John, his talent is admirable. Warmest wishes to you, dear poet dear friend.. ~Susan

Jenna Logan Date: 11/30/2021 2:15:00 PM Separately, you both write to earn acclaim, and together you raise the bar with your lyrical aptitude. Well done, you two. Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 12/1/2021 4:38:00 PM Dear Jenna, your heartwarming comments are uplifting and received with gratitude. John is a joy to collaborate with. His talent elevated our song to the heavens. Thank you for sharing your precious thoughts with me, my friend. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Vijay Pandit Date: 11/30/2021 1:37:00 PM Kudos to you both, Susan and John. Enjoyed your lyrical masterpiece from start to finish. Brilliant word play and creativity. The two of you are among the best on Soup. Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 12/1/2021 10:29:00 AM Dear Vijay, you called it on John's page! :)) Thank you, my friend, I am so delighted to receive your beautiful comments. They mean a lot coming from a poet whose heart and artistry I so admire. I am at once humbled yet elated by your precious thoughts. John was the driving force behind this song and I am ever grateful he chose to share his amazing talent with me. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Jeannie Cronin Date: 11/30/2021 1:34:00 PM Great job! Best of luck to you both. Can’t wait to hear the recorded version and music bed. Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 11/30/2021 7:14:00 PM Thank you, Jeannie, it’s a joy to receive your heartfelt comments. I am uplifted by your lovely words. It was a wonderful honor to collaborate with my dear friend, John. His gifted pen is golden and I am truly grateful he chose to share his shining talent with me. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan