Category Archives: Excerpts from Book 22 “The Poetry of Allison Grayhurst – completed works from 1988 to 2017 (Volume 1 of 5)” Edge Unlimited Publishing (2017)

Daughter

Posted on by Allison Grayhurst

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Daughter

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Drum, drum

the drake of dreams

and heed the head that

knows it is blind

to all the mysteries.

My hand is here, my

hand to follow. I love your

cleft chin and your strange blue eyes.

I love your laughter at night.

Live like no other has lived.

For you are more than a kaleidoscope,

more than six months of hope and happy endings.

Thank you for arriving, for changing my view forever.

I watch your sleeping face

and feel a thousand souls merge behind your

soft skin. Every day is your birthday, when a new

part of you is revealed like the most beautiful of wonders.

Play with the ropes of many.

I am here, and will always be

yours in love.

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Copyright © 2000 by Allison Grayhurst

3005

amazon.com/author/allisongrayhurst

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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/

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Published in “Novelmasters” May 2017

http://www.novelmasters.org/allison-grayhurst-end-of-an-era/

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You can listen to the poem by clicking below:

https://allisongrayhurst.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/daughter.m4a?_=1

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“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.

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To Die For The Heart’s Illusions

Posted on by Allison Grayhurst

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To Die For The Heart’s Illusions

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          She is your halo, angel

that plagues you with her light,

slashes your self-defeat

with her wooing purity.

 

          She gives you great meaning

to go on. A perfect child-god,

untouchable like an abyss: blue eyes,

sun-toned hair, like you in her

reflection.

 

          She is delicate, holy, in need

of your protection. Daughter that swells

your cup overflowing with messianic intent.

 

          But little girl, human

with her own flaws, that

you will never acknowledge, never

relinquish your idolizing love. . .

 

 

. . .  from the cold claim of isolation,

where your raving dragons howl

as you drink her smile

like a remedy . . .

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Copyright © 1997 by Allison Grayhurst

amazon.com/author/allisongrayhurst

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Published in “Bewildering Stories, Issue 714” May 2017

http://www.bewilderingstories.com/

http://www.bewilderingstories.com/issue714/blurb.html

http://www.bewilderingstories.com/issue714/die_illusions.html

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

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Published in “Poems and Poetry” May 2017

 

https://www.poemsandpoetryblog.com/6776/to-die-for-the-hearts-illusions-a-poem-by-allison-grayhurst

https://www.poemsandpoetryblog.com/poet-bios/allison-grayhurst

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You can listen to the poem by clicking below:

https://allisongrayhurst.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/to-die-for-the-hearts-illusions.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.

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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.
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“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.

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After Rejection . . . (if only)

Posted on by Allison Grayhurst

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After Rejection . . . (if only)

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To blaze forth the anger of doubt, grieve

my breast robbed of joy.

 

To drink the stream from furious eyes,

and clip the proud anguish from my tight jaw.

 

To send flying the irrational gestures

that dig like a cat’s claw into

my naked lips, withering my depths

of all understanding.

 

To know a faith so whole it hurts like love.

 

To plunge into the androgynous heart that

sings & hurts the same

for all.

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Copyright © 1997 by Allison Grayhurst

amazon.com/author/allisongrayhurst

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First published in “Bewildering Stories, Issue 712” May 2017

   

http://www.bewilderingstories.com/

http://www.bewilderingstories.com/issue712/blurb.html

http://www.bewilderingstories.com/issue712/after_rejection.html

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

.

You can listen to the poem by clicking below:

https://allisongrayhurst.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/after-rejection.m4a?_=3

  .

“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.

 .

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