Cage of Many Pockets and Layers

 

 

Lead,

into the land of vermin,

infesting the once blooming shores,

past the emergency-alarm, into

living fires, boiling and sharp in

their arrogant countenance.

 

Alone on a humble rock, standing –

arms folded, then stretched wide and up.

I take the hand and am led to a land

that tests my dignity and my resolve.

Many voices I must lose, people to leave behind.

 

The ship is the hand

leading through levels of horror

until the gate opens

to the possibility for redemption.

 

Wings of demons block the sky – pilgrimage eternal,

shaking off pity for the futile swarm moving

like lips of a mouth moving that offers no sound or groan.

 

My mind is tied to heaven, committed to resurgence.

My heart breaks but it is still whole, leaving,

being led over the land of naught, where there is plenty

of self-righteous indignation, self-sorrowing gleam

and the shadows,

led through and over

flailing limbs, bodies multiplying –

a thickening mass, swirling, swirling…

 

 

Copyright © 2021 by Allison Grayhurst

amazon.com/author/allisongrayhurst

 .https://issuu.com/allisongrayhurst/docs/book_32_-ways_of_mercy_-_the_poetry_of_allison_gra

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First published in “Impspired – Issue 10 and print anthology Volume 5” April/May 2021

https://impspired.com/impspired-issue-10/

https://impspired.com/2021/04/01/allison-greyhurst/

https://www.amazon.com/dp/191413026X

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Published in “Synchronized Chaos” April 2021

http://synchchaos.com/synchronized-chaos-april-2021-escape-room/

http://synchchaos.com/poetry-from-allison-grayhurst-12/

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You can listen to this poem by clicking the link below: