It is not new

Posted on July 6, 2017 by Allison Grayhurst

It is not new

to hold out a hand

and find something dead

cupped inside.

It is not love that loves

through essential compromise.

It is God we speak to

everytime we verbalize,

and God will mend even the ones

who think they’re saved.

It is the cracked jaw,

the splintered bone and expressions

of boredom and greed that

disease a child’s innocence.

It is how we deal with the senselessness of being

that makes us either deny or realize

a gift of spiritual wonder.

amazon.com/author/allisongrayhurst

Published in “Asian Signature, Vol. 5, No. 1” July 2018

Asian Signature, 5^th Vol, no 1 – five poems, July 2018

http://asiansignature.com/world-poetry/allison-grayhurst-2/

http://asiansignature.com/2018/06/page/3/

First published in “Our Poetry Archive, Contemporary Women’s Poetry Anthology” July 2017

https://anthologyofcontemporarywomenspoetry.blogspot.ca/

https://anthologyofcontemporarywomenspoetry.blogspot.ca/2017/07/allison-grayhurst.html

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.

Safe In You

Posted on June 6, 2017 by Allison Grayhurst

Safe In You

In you, mystery is masked

by no one’s hood, has grown

away from the tyranny

of world and the gloom

of nations betrayed by

their gods.

In you the inexplicable

takes a womb, a rhyme

from your sweet blood

flowing.

And love, once pale and clay-like-cold,

selected you to partner my hope,

to resemble visions vacant of sentiment

and teach me to abandon

death and ill-nourished joys.

Your love wraps around like a melody

undulating out from your exceeding

intensity, it wraps,

until I surrender, unable, unwilling

to move.

amazon.com/author/allisongrayhurst

Published in “Asian Signature, Vol. 5, No. 1” July 2018

http://asiansignature.com/world-poetry/allison-grayhurst-2/

http://asiansignature.com/2018/06/page/3/

First published in “Bewildering Stories, Issue 716” May 2017

http://www.bewilderingstories.com/

http://www.bewilderingstories.com/issue716/blurb.html

http://www.bewilderingstories.com/issue716/safe_you.html

http://www.bewilderingstories.com/bios/grayhurst_allison_bio.html

You can listen to the poem by clicking below:

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.

Drove Me Down

Posted on June 3, 2017 by Allison Grayhurst

Drove Me Down

By your mercy

the stone was thrown

that drove me down.

By your love

I catapulted

into the ditch,

and am still there.

By your freedom,

my faith was bound

and the rivers

outside

have soured.

By these things

my table was set and my ankles chained.

I see no way to be removed

but by your mercy

after the stone was thrown.

amazon.com/author/allisongrayhurst

First published in “Setu”, May 2017

http://www.setumag.com/2017/05/Literary-Journal.html

http://www.setumag.com/2017/05/allison-grayhurst-poetry.html

http://www.setumag.com/2016/10/authorallison-grayhurst.html

.You can listen to the poem by clicking below:

Reviews of ‘The Many Lights of Eden’:

“’The Many Lights of Eden’ is a journey: a journey of the heart through youth, anguish, struggle, spiritual awakening, grief, death, love, loss, guilt, struggle, despair, hope, surrender, God, sensuality, imperfection, motherhood, aging, the vanquishing of the devil, indeed, many devils, the inevitable fall from perfection and the casting off of old wineskins for a new one. Perhaps speaking of this book as a chronicle of spiritual maturing would be more accurate, the realization that there is spirituality within imperfection and that handmade temples cannot hope to compete with the spiritual temples within each of us. ‘The Many Lights of Eden’ is a diamond. It is a beautiful collection of insights. Allison Grayhurst’s thoughts and writings are a deep well. Drink from it, for the water is clear and crisp. This collection is a MUST-READ,” Eric M. Vogt, author of Letters to Lara and Paths and Pools to Ponder.

“I have been slow at responding to reviews for Allison Grayhurst due to summer’s busy days, however she brings life to each poem, heart to the images and everyone should have a collection of Grayhurst Poetry,” Ann Johnson-Murphree, poet.