River – the song and the poem

Posted on October 18, 2017 by Allison Grayhurst

River by Diane Barbarash

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:

River

I will run my breath across your eyelids,

go to you, trace the edges of your hands,

finding infinity inside your torment. I will

drift into you like wind and you will not mind

my lips like a concentrated shadow on your skin,

darkening but leaving no weight. You will let me

be inside your picture, a background to your lyrics,

softly at first, I will heal the red in the whites of your eyes.

I will release my wardrobe for you and you will be the mania

that I climb through to reach tranquility. I will

cup your flesh and stretch you through this intimacy because

I own you as you own me and it is not a bad thing, not

blasphemy or anything

to fear. It is your hands, mine – these

poignant burial grounds that have been excavated,

these days of standing close, depending upon the ease

of our mutual exposure. I will speak in your ear and you

will step into my voice

like stepping into a river.

amazon.com/author/allisongrayhurst

First published in “InnerChildPress” 2012

Guardian

Posted on July 25, 2017 by Allison Grayhurst

Guardian (for Beeper)

Dog-eyes like a morning

infused

with warmth.

I dream of sending you

silhouettes wedged

from the mountain,

where we would go

flooded with lyric & hazy light.

By the campfire furnace,

chasing the breeze through

the haunted wood. And then,

by the river, by daylight,

your tongue outstretched to cup bee.

Your oversized ebony head gliding through

the water like a dolphin’s.

Under the bridge, on the railroad tracks,

your muscles moved erecting

monuments of innocence and incomparable strength.

Past the fence, past

my sight, releasing sounds of excitement, sounds

of a simple, language bark,

as you ran

thunderous & dark

as departure

often is.

amazon.com/author/allisongrayhurst

Published in “Communicators League” June 2017

https://communicatorsleague.com/2017/06/23/three-poems-by-allison-grayhurst-2/

You can listen to the poem by clicking below:

https://allisongrayhurst.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/gaurdian.m4a?_=1

“Somewhere Falling has a richness of imagery and an intensity of emotion rare in contemporary poetry. Drawn in sharp outlines of light and darkness, and rich shades of colour, with a deep sense of loss and longing and the possibility of salvation, this is an unusual book by a gifted young poet. Grayhurst’s voice is one to which we should continue to pay attention.” — Maggie Helwig, author of Apocalypse Jazz and Eating Glass.

“Responsibility and passion don’t often go together, especially in the work of a young poet. Allison Grayhurst combines them in audacious ways. Somewhere Falling is a grave, yet sensuous book.” – Mark Abley, author of Glasburyon and Blue Sand, Blue Moon.

“Biting into the clouds and bones of desire and devotion, love and grief, Allison Grayhurst basks the reader, with breathtaking eloquence, in an elixir of words. Like lace, the elegance is revealed by what isn’t said. This is stunning poetry.” – Angela Hryniuk, author of no visual scars.

High Hill

Posted on June 10, 2017 by Allison Grayhurst

High Hill

On that high hill

the wood burned like a flower,

the smoke rose to my lipline

under a decaying tree.

I walked down that hill to kiss a grave

and marry my heart to the iris of death.

But heat mounts near the waking sun,

and on and on goes the wind, brushing

the powerful weeds.

Walking along the path, my skin has changed,

my shell is under water where it belongs.

There is not much to understand, but to

surrender to honesty and to covet

the courage needed to speak

my ruling rhyme.

On this high hill

I drowned in the devil’s chaos,

but that place is long gone.

And though the asylum of darkness still comes around,

it vanishes so quickly with kindness.

amazon.com/author/allisongrayhurst

First published in “GloMag” May/June 2017

GloMagMay-June17

You can listen to the poem by clicking below:

https://allisongrayhurst.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/high-hill.m4a?_=2

“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.