.

Vault

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            Do not ask

how the wind gathered

my name in this

region of shell & flesh.

            Do not wonder at my

sad hands drenched

in the weight of so much held,

so much

released.

            If it were possible I would kiss the

pine needle, be stung forever

by nature’s flood. I would tear

my heart from this depth & growth,

become seed or shadow or someone

as strong as the iron-core moon.

            My legs and knees are trembling.

Dawn is guiding me into dangerous wake.

            And all lights everywhere

watch, as though

my darkness is

sealed.

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Copyright © 1995 by Allison Grayhurst

amazon.com/author/allisongrayhurst

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First published in “First Offense”  1996

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You can listen to the poem by clicking below:

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“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.

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On The Porch

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Everything arrives

like this melt-down

sun, into the dog

terror of nothingness.

Thursday came.

Then like a leaf

it died under a phosphorus

drug.

I sat on a stool

handled by the deep midnight

air.

I let the silence

lull between

my teeth.

I wanted to forget

where I was

and why each day

passed so unnoticed

into the next.

Why dust gathered

under the husk

of heart and dreams.

Why so many battles,

so many shipwrecks

& the stars. The stars,

they kissed my lips

with their light. They told me

there was no bottom,

no loneliness. They burrowed

under my eyes, then left me

weeping.

.

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Copyright © 1995 by Allison Grayhurst

amazon.com/author/allisongrayhurst

.

First published in “The New Quarterly”  1993

https://tnq.ca/issues/issue-047/

.

You can listen to the poem by clicking below:

.

“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.

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