Snowy

Snowy

Sad as sleepy morning comes.

Soft ground to rest your chin upon,

soft like you are, in need of no one’s

flag or ego-affirmation.

 

When you walk

children wave from car windows, elated

to see such unmasked joy – mouth in an open smile,

and eyes, happier still – dark as toiled earth, alert

to the house cat’s twitching ear.

 

Satisfied in the full morning sun, you move

from sidewalk curb to road, sniffing at poles

and thin strands of grass

as your long clumped fur like a sheep’s pleated coat

ripples in time with the end-of-summer’s wafting rhythm.

Treats, stuffed toys and laying contentedly

on your back, these things are enough.

 

Many have tried to imitate, parading

their off-white pups through neighbouring streets:

They saw you once and wanted the same.

But you were claimed by a private angel.

Fastened to good karma,

you glow, you germinate, and you proceed.

 

As you sleep by the door

in and out of your doggy dreams,

you defeat the need for tomorrow’s schemes.

With an unassuming soothing moan

you stretch then continue in rest,

abating the weight of my human despair.

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Copyright  © 2012 by Allison Grayhurst

BookCoverPreview (3)

BookCoverImage Allison GrayhurstTrial and Witness print back cover

amazon.com/author/allisongrayhurst

 

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First published in “See Spot Run Literary Magazine” March 2015

See Spot Run 2 See Spot Run 3 See Spot Run 4 See Spot Run 5 See Spot Run 6See Spot Run pic

 

file:///C:/Users/Allison/Downloads/SSRMarch2015%20(2).pdf

See Spot Run March 2015

 

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You can listen to the poem by clicking below:

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Animal Sanctuary – the song and the poem

 

River – songs from the poetry of Allison Grayhurst

https://dianebarbarash.bandcamp.com/

https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/dianebarbarash3

https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/river-songs-from-the-poetry-of-allison-grayhurst/id1293420648

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0766X9LDJ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1507310524&sr=8-1&keywords=diane+barbarash

 

 

The Poem:

 

Animal Sanctuary

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He turns his hawk head

to view the shells of turtles streaking

the still-shroud of water in tanks

as blue as sky.

 

He lifts a leg and talons tensed,

pivots to defend against an enclosing shadow.

 

With whitish eyes and an impossible urge

to fly, he hops along his man-made perch toward

the cages where squirrels leap

from metal to wood, scattering like leaves

in unpredictable flurry.

 

He listens to the ducks’ lipless sounds.

 

Spring, he will never experience again, nor know

the scent of a pent-up life released like

sunflowers blooming, or the feel of the moon,

colder but more comforting than being touched.

 

He is without time or tribe,

and like fire, he haunts

by just being.

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Copyright © 1998 by Allison Grayhurst

3002   

 

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First published in “UC Review”, 1996/1997

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Girl – the song and the poem

River – songs from the poetry of Allison Grayhurst

https://dianebarbarash.bandcamp.com/

https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/dianebarbarash3

https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/river-songs-from-the-poetry-of-allison-grayhurst/id1293420648

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0766X9LDJ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1507310524&sr=8-1&keywords=diane+barbarash

 

 

The Poem:

 

Girl

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Under the willow tree a girl

was standing, lonely with

the worst of nights ahead.

They said

drink from the tarpit 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.

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Copyright © 2002 by Allison Grayhurst

3011     

amazon.com/author/allisongrayhurst

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First published in “Out of Our”, 2012

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