The Foliage of Our Music

The Foliage of Our Music

Near the shut lives of people

who love intangible,

who hide within the spell of seasonal spirituality,

you are the all that intoxicates my hunger,

summons my vision beyond

its threshold, takes my hand amidst

the tyranny of worldly demands and loves

me through my weeping – your body happy

to receive me, to blanket me with touch. Your hair

and belly and your thin bones

that carry such a restless warmth that

only sharpens each day with charm and insight.

No one desires like you the forgotten passions,

reads to me the marrow from books and dances

with mad laughter when seeing the solemn

horrors of most daily deeds.

No one grows so weighted with sorrow,

so beautified by empathy as you when tracing

the footsteps of the oppressed, visiting

each broken with a dense compassion

that embraces all as your equal.

Haggard hope between us

to avenge the space that splits

our love with petty differences.

I spend no delight but dread

the thorny flame of loneliness, of

loving again a lesser love, looking

into some appealing eyes that are not

your eyes nor know the things

of your kind wisdom.

amazon.com/author/allisongrayhurst

First published in “Novelmasters” November 2016

http://www.novelmasters.org/allison-grayhurst-seizing-time/

You can listen to the poem by clicking below:

“Allison Grayhurst intertwines a potent spirituality throughout her work so that each poem is not simply a statement or observation, but a revelation that demands the reader’s personal involvement. Grayhurst’s poetic genius is profound and evident. Her voice is uniquely authentic, undeniable in its dignified vulnerability as it is in its significance,” Kyp Harness, singer/songwriter, author.

“Allison Grayhurst’s poems are like cathedrals witnessing and articulating in unflinching graphic detail the gritty angst and grief of life, while taking it to rare clarity, calm and comfort. Grayhurst’s work is haunting, majestic and cleansing, often leaving one breathless in the wake of its intelligence, hope, faith and love amidst the muck of life. Many of Allison Grayhurst’s poems are simply masterpieces. Grayhurst’s poetry is a lighthouse of intelligent honour… indeed, intelligence rips through her work like white water,” Taylor Jane Green, Registered Spiritual Psychotherapist and author.

Reviews of ‘Journey of the Awakening’:

“Journey of the Awakening is the first book of poetry that I have read of Allison Grayhurst. While reading it began to sound familiar, the comment to myself was “She is as good as Sylvia Plath”. When I finished the book I read comments from others who referred to her as “In the style of Sylvia Plath”; Ms Plath, one of my favorite poets had no match until Ms Grayhurst’s work. Congratulations to her on her achievements, I am already a ‘fan’, the love of her work will continue to grow,” Ann Johnson-Murphree, 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. This, and other Grayhurst poetry volumes are highly, highly recommended,” Tom Davis, poet, novelist and educator.