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Altered Behind City Gardens

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        We walked behind city gardens.

He was singing

        and riding

his hunger like a spear

through brightened houses and

        cameo clouds.

He was saying to me – keep gold

and wild – as he lifted

        a finger, pointing

above the ribs,

between my breasts.

        How that day I became

his, as though gone into

his light and into his terror –

        endless.

How that day I felt

a new blade of grass

        beneath my rugged ware,

with every step,

found my country whole.

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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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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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