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To Wait Without Drowning
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Too quiet here
in the yellow rains, the yellow
darkness
ranting outside the door.
The wig of the sky
swells like a million balloons;
clouds,
foaming through the cracks of eternal space.
I want to say one thing
swift enough to catch
birds.
I want to say this thing
that contains shelter and the squawking storms,
that floods my body as though my skin
was a sponge, floods first,
then severs each nerve and cord.
I want to lie under water until I awaken,
until hunters and herds walk the grasslands,
calm
against each other’s shoulders . . .
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Copyright © 1995 by Allison Grayhurst
amazon.com/author/allisongrayhurst
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Published in “The Peregrine Muse” July 2017
https://sites.google.com/site/theperegrinemuseii/home/grayhurst
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First published in “Writers Quarterly”
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You can listen to the poem by clicking below:
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“Somewhere Falling has a richness of imagery and an intensity of emotion rare in contemporary poetry. Drawn in sharp outlines of light and darkness, and rich shades of colour, with a deep sense of loss and longing and the possibility of salvation, this is an unusual book by a gifted young poet. Grayhurst’s voice is one to which we should continue to pay attention.” — Maggie Helwig, author of Apocalypse Jazz and Eating Glass.
“Responsibility and passion don’t often go together, especially in the work of a young poet. Allison Grayhurst combines them in audacious ways. Somewhere Falling is a grave, yet sensuous book.” – Mark Abley, author of Glasburyon and Blue Sand, Blue Moon.
“Biting into the clouds and bones of desire and devotion, love and grief, Allison Grayhurst basks the reader, with breathtaking eloquence, in an elixir of words. Like lace, the elegance is revealed by what isn’t said. This is stunning poetry.” – Angela Hryniuk, author of no visual scars.
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The last verse is exquisite.
I want to be there too 🙂
I agree with Anne this is another high quality poem to grace me today and as I was saying on another blog I have been all over the blog sphere.
phenomenal