Bless The Fallen

Posted on May 11, 2016 by Allison Grayhurst

Bless The Fallen

Bless the fallen, the less than ghost faces

that haunt this cityscape.

Bless the one who cannot give, who cannot

nurse a broken heart.

Bless the one hardened by degrees, by small failures

that mount a life incapable.

Bless the proud bearer of truth who cannot be humbled,

blinded by spiritual vanity.

Bless the arrogant, the one who feels movement

only by force.

Bless the bearer of bitterness, who has no stronghold

but hate.

Bless the one who fails to see the birds fly, hear

the angels in their dreams.

Forgive us our canyons where self-pity reigns

and self-pity devours.

Hold us near the harbour light though the chaos of sea

be the only realm

we, as of yet, have known.

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.First published in “The Seventh Quarry, Issue 24” Summer 2016

http://www.poetrymagazines.org.uk/magazine/index.asp?id=88

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.

This Hope

Posted on May 7, 2016 by Allison Grayhurst

This Hope

With the hope of recovery,

and with eyes ever seeing

new ways to pronounce God,

my heart extends beyond

its necessary function

and leans closer to its

greater nature.

With this hope, love is possible,

love purified from fear,

so much wider than the typical emotion

and half-made substance of romantic dreaming.

With this hope, my hands remember old ways

of feeling. The stars chime with sounds

immeasurable, but finally recognized as true.

With this hope, dark is made right

and all extremities are drawn into the centre,

concentrated, solidified –

born and beginning.

amazon.com/author/allisongrayhurst

First published in “Cavalcade of Stars”, April 2016

Cavalcade of stars The Hope 1 1

https://cavalcadeofstars.wordpress.com/2016/04/04/allison-grayhurst-3/

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.