Under the willow tree a girl

was standing, lonely with

the worst of nights ahead.

They said

drink from the tar pit waters and swallow

the oysters that lost their shells.

She saw the drug the wind made

though she did not let it shift her steadfast heart.

Everywhere the notion stood

that fighting back is better than

the tender wave, better than

empathy and believing in affection.

The willow leaves have gone brown and the girl has moved

beside a cliff. She dances as though she

could not fall. And though they gasp to pity

her poor body against rocks and ridges,

she continues to move like a beautiful sound,

sure of the hand that guides her.

© Allison Grayhurst

Excerpt from the book “Trial And Witness – Selected Poems”

$13.95 Plus Shipping ~ Available at CTU Publishing Group and Amazon.com

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About the Author

Allison Grayhurst is a member…