Best Mistral Poems
Alone the bones of the room
bear no weight of responsibility
nor does it bare its breast of secrets
a broken pane
provides a breath with a pang of lavender
a wistful inhale
inhabits the lungs of this space
as the room tries to embrace...
oh embrace the breathing breeze
to squeeze a semblance of life into this place
but the breeze— a gypsy whisper-warm
needs freedom to come through and sweep-swirl
sun-dust into whirls of pinprick-stars...
then leave softly recede not beholden to bones
stoic and standing still
not beholden to dust stranded midair
only to fall in despair— abandoned
with less a good-bye
as bygone laughter and lullabies
are held on lath-tongues
behind horsehair plaster walls
but mute memories linger
they mingle in fairy dust like fireflies in dusk;
her May-time suckling coos and her mama’s ooohs
the woes and throes of Winter’s rocking chair nights
a weep of April tears and seep of mud puddles thawed
the reborn dust lifted with green summer breezes
—a colored canvas that minions of time
would rather gesso white
in its bones the room
remembers its worth as a womb
nurturing a baby’s breath
beneath blue-skin-skies
where rows of purple spires grow
till Mistral winds blew hard and cold
and flew her lavender soul
far from her earthly home
oh the loss of life
wind-crashing-seas-onto-rocks
loss of life
skeleton-ribs-of-the-crib-stripped
of-her-lavender-sprig
loss of life
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!
UNTAMED HEART
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
Written November 26,2021
(revised Nov29,2021)
John Derek Hamilton, Susan Ashley
Spring Whimsy
winter packs his trunk
full of icy fleece and flakes ~
going south for spring
spring unpacks her bags
rolls out green hills with poppies ~
mustard carpets glens
vernal daylight sighs
sheds a winter overcoat ~
nature somersaults
sassy daffodils
troubadours of the season ~
in the midst of snow
snowdrops and tulips
mingle with playful raindrops ~
hummingbirds return
spring teases tree buds
tickles robins and the wrens ~
jokes in cheeky fun
loons and larks arrive
mistral songs fill flaxen fields ~
forests swing and sway
coy clouds gather in
flirt with flashing thunderbolts ~
birds watch from warm nests
rain tumbles through skies
plays hide and seek with thunder ~
feisty blue bells stand
waxing springtime moon
paints rose petals platinum ~
neon night aglow
impish morning sun
winks at fields of red clover ~
spring born of whimsy
3-30-22
Contest: A Brian Strand Premiere Choice
Sponsor: Brian Strand
Written: January 30, 2025
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beneath February breath,
a fugue of magic hues—
embers of crimson,
coppered caramel trill
as maples sway
in Mistral melodic mirth.
Amidst the rhapsody,
in strokes of whispered shimmer
a rainbow flares.
In a seamless symphony,
a fresco of shades
unfurls in the sky.
Amid the onyx,
woven in clouds gossamer,
winter moon glows in a frosty sheen.
In luminous rhapsodies,
she hums opal notes
of wistful longings to the sea’s restless soul.
Drenched in ethereal blushes,
the sea becomes a shimmering midnight hymn—
choristers of spectral silver.
O'er the skyline’s silken scarlet,
March dusk in tourmaline blush, twilight lyrics
of a sundown serenade.
Amidst the concerto,
swirling crimson, a swoop of swallows
in shimmering shadows.
They dart off into the tinted eventide,
their wing beats, an echo of lingering silence.
Lou Reed , Mistral of his time
so you walked this road on the wild side
unique in music , never selling out
believing in Art instead of commercialize
Lou Reed the musician never compromised ~
Sweet Jane not enough for our crowd of eccentric rockers
still will live forever with the many that left before you
one can imagine from John Lennon to Johnny Ramone
a party in Heaven of the finest rock bestowed
no text , no MTV when they pursued a dream
New York, hotel Chelsea an age of Renaissance
ragged jeans and leather jackets ,Art on stage
No, your Rock not ever fade away , it will stay sweet Jane forever ~
For the fine Man with words , ode to Lou Reed .
….. I
. am
. free
. to go
. where
. breezes
. take me,
. free to be
. at liberty, . my spirit
. loosed
. on the waters
. to be borne of
. the power neath
. my strong timber,
. take me where’er
. you will, until the
. air of the mistral
. is spent and the
. clouds bid me
. cease …
.
your unfailing love has borne me aloft
but without you by my side, I am
…………. at the mercy of the depths …………………
by Bill Lindsay
October 14th 2015
For the contest, Creative Layouts, sponsor, Broken Wings
Each year the world spins older
And winter winds sing colder ...
Oh I can name the minutes 'til its done
Dark and dreary binds me
Still the spring-tide winds me
Up to feel the breath of summer sun
Summer finds - sunshine
Kissing your skin
Summer finds - you're mine
Let - love - be-gin
Summer finds - our minds
Soft-spinning in ...
The breeze ...
The sweet summer breeze
I know that there's a reason
Each lifetime has its season
Morning chases off the darkest night
Tho' May can fill the hollows
The sun of summer follows
That's when I'll be holding you so tight
Summer finds - sunshine
Kissing your skin
Summer finds - you're mine
Let - love - be-gin
Summer finds - our minds
Soft-spinning in ...
The breeze ...
The sweet summer breeze
Baby, don't let the chill of those long winter nights
Blow all the embers away (far away)
Baby, soon summer breezes will warm you so right
And turn those long nights ...
To sweet - warm - lov-in' - days
(solo)
Oh sometimes there's a storm
That interrupts the warm ...
And paints a fleeting shadow on the sea
But then those breezes blow
To let this scoundrel know
That soon the summer mistral
Will bring - my - love - to - me
Summer finds - sunshine
Kissing your skin
Summer finds - you're mine
Let - love - be-gin
Summer finds - our minds
Soft-spinning in ...
The breeze ...
The sweet summer breeze
(repeat refrain)
That sweet, sweet summer breeze.
~ 1st Place ~ in the "Summer Breeze" Poetry Contest, John Hamilton, Judge & Sponsor.
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!
Dappled Winds
Phantom gliders in the sky rise at day
To rush the firmament on dappled winds,
Heaven’s piebald appaloosas at play,
Brindled tempests ruffle zephyr’s fringes
On stippled flurries in mistral tinges -
Flecks of dirges – the haunting calls of loons –
Laugh with ecstasy at mosaic breeze,
Born from the mottled rainbow’s pure cocoon,
In a dappled dance of impish teases.
2-11-22
Contest: D Forms - Dizain
Sponsor: Constance La France
Foolish whims scatter
I played at life, but life played me harder,
Lived bet to debt, in life's Russian roulette
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
For bite size poetry contest
Line Gautier
The mistral cold wind blew incessantly wild,
Winding in the streets, its glacial currents in and around
The apartment blocks where all frosted windows
Were tightly secure. Still the bleak wintry chill entered
From tiny ruptured chinks and spread inside
Annihilating the miserly heat emitted
By old cranky air conditioners and gas heaters.
Occasional bursts of strong wind blew
Some soft snow up like winnowed chaff.
One hopes the homeless found some place to rest.
Along roads where mistral sweeps
Loneliness within ambles on
Every other step falling, keeps isolation
While, happiness continues out of sync
I am cool water,
You are a lily, upon ...
I move around and about -
Sustain you, cradle you.
Drink of me ...
And bloom!
You are blossom, soft,
To my supple branching ...
You are fragrance and beauty,
Giggling in the breeze.
Hold tight to me ...
And abound!
I am a mistral, aloft,
You, the waxwing dancing -
Unseen and unknowable, yet ...
I am care and constant.
Press your wings upon me ...
And soar!
~ 1st Place ~ in the "Strand Select 5, Any Form, Any Theme" Poetry Contest, Brian Strand, Judge & Sponsor.
Near the cliff's edge he stood
poised and composed. Wind swept dust
whirling salt mingling thyme,
tickling his half-clogged nose.
Seagulls screeching,
gliding, soaring, diving,
harbingers of electric storms.
A mistral wind blew cold and cruel
black clouds formed low, forbidding.
Lazy lizards scuttled for refuge
Sparrows hid in lowly carobs
Or flew into the stately pines.
The wind spoke suddenly.
Gusts whispering dread.
An urge, a whisper, an invitation
echoing sirens of old:
"Be free, fly, liberate yourself."
Below, the sea in turmoil,
no fishing boats in sight.
No one but he dared face the storm,
the storm he feared
was inside his tattered soul,
a sea of torment.
The birds and creatures of the wild
found a haven, but he had none,
no solutions to the inner storm,
except to dive and join the sirens,
in the perilous seas below.
What has happened to my muse?
It's not an easy thing to lose
Yet, it seems that I've misplaced it
Or, perhaps, I just erased it
In some absent-minded funk
(Lordy knows, I'm never drunk)
Maybe it's just up my sleeve
Waiting for a love's reprieve
Or stuffed deep inside a pocket
Hoping hopes a dream will rock it
Or perhaps behind the couch
Intent to end my writing slouch
Lost in darkness 'neath my bed
(A metaphor for "in my head")
Drifting on a spring-tide mistral
Or poised for ruin, in a pistol
Gossamer as an angel's wing
Or ebbing life, as sirens sing
Dancing on a moonlit sea
Bound for harbors, heavenly
In the grasp of horrors, dim
A last endeavor, chances, slim
Perhaps it's waiting just inside
The smile of a blushing bride
Or in the twisted roots of trees
A thousand angry honey bees
Framed like all the grandest art
Or served on silver, a' la carte
The promise of a mustard seed
Or in the depths of evil greed
The fevered itch of aged scars
Hot like dust, among the stars
See, that's the beauty of a muse
It hides inside whate'er we choose
Imagination sews its seam -
Bound only by how deep we dream
So, it was hiding, from the start
Within the chambers of my heart
And if your muse is missing, too
I'm sure that's where it waits ...
For YOU!
Written on May 10, 2020
Submitted on June 18, 2020
To the "Your Fave Poem 2020 Not Written For A Contest" Poetry Contest
John Hamilton, Judge & Sponsor.