In the little things

that fatten a day with petulant

injustices. In the basic things

like the lies in a newspaper or the

nonchalant acceptance of privilege,

history sinks and degenerates – a little

something, a base something growing to encumber

the oval whole without constraint. Patronizing as presents,

given gifts from the world-traveller

to the poor who are stuck with

store-bought cans and hardships

that leave no space for frivolity or

such easeful distractions.

A little now to the right, and symphonies

that neglect the dark muse

of its creator. Van Gough on placemats,

and there now, there now,

smile for the camera and make yourself as someone

special, worthy of your elitist smirk – a masterpiece of fiction –

one side, one belief, a derelict of denial to the little things

that demand so much courage to just muddle through.

Copyright © 2015 by Allison Grayhurst

amazon.com/author/allisongrayhurst

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First published in “Bold Monkey” October 2015

http://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/2015/10/featuring-allison-grayhurst.html

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You can listen to the poem by clicking below:

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“Allison’s poetic prose is insightful, enwrapping, illuminating and brutally truthful. It probes the nature of the human spirit, relationships, spirituality and God. It is sung as the clearest song is sung within a cathedral by choir. It is whispered as faintly as a heartbroken goodbye. It is alive with the life of a thousand birds in flight within the first glint of morning sun. It is as solemn as the sad-sung ballad of a noble death. Read at your peril. You will never look at this world in quite the same way again. Your eye will instinctively search the sky for eagles and scan the dark earth for the slightest movement of smallest ant, your heart will reach for tall mountains, bathe in the most intimate of passions and in the grain and grit of our earth. Such is Allison Grayhurst. Such is her poetry,”  Eric M. Vogt, poet and author.

“Grayhurst is a great Canadian poet. All of Allison Grayhurst’s poetry is original, sometimes startling, and more often than not, powerful. Anyone who loves modern poetry that does not follow the common path will find Grayhurst complex, insightful, and as good a poet as anyone writing in the world today. Grayhurst’s poetry volumes are highly, highly recommended,” Tom Davis, poet, novelist and educator.