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Fingerprint
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Call it in,
into the palm,
into the spoon,
the upsidedown shell.
Hold its liquid grace
and walk slowly over hunchback hills,
tall weeds and cracked pavement.
Do not spill a drop.
Shield it from the sun
so it will not evaporate.
Shield it from the stars
so it does not recognize its kin
and claim its home back amongst them.
Shield it from the children
who naturally harness such vitality.
And also, from the animals,
they will gather it in their mouths
and feed it to their early-summer offspring,
knowing its worth.
Instead, call it in
because this small measure is only yours,
as long as you call it in and let all other things go,
go to serve your house and others.
As long as you know, possession here is paramount,
protection is integrity, is the way
to keep the sponge saturated, your jaw firm
in prayer.
Call it in,
into the brown jar on your sacred shelf,
anoint it secret, pay the wages
to ensure its safety. Sip from it,
sometimes a little, sometimes more than a little,
like rejoicing, like uncoiling, caught
pure, naked, in a space fully lit with
no off-switch or walls.
© 2018 by Allison Grayhurst
amazon.com/author/allisongrayhurst
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Published in “Synchronized Chaos” September 2018
https://synchchaos.com/poetry-from-allison-grayhurst-7/
https://synchchaos.com/synchronized-chaos-september-2018/
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Published in “Chicago Record Magazine” August 2018
https://magazine-record.blogspot.com/2018/08/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-x-none_16.html
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You can listen to the poem by clicking below:
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