Category Archives: Excerpts from Book 3 “Death and Other Possibilities” Edge Unlimited Publishing (2000)

Silence

Posted on by Allison Grayhurst

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Silence

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I lift the bullfrog from the waters.

Bread, parables and staying close to a legend –

these are things of joy. I am thinking of the grave

near the willow tree, whose roots have grown

around the coffin, and of a sailing ship

that has no home port, but drifts like

a hollow log on living waters.

Freely I made my room and closed the door.

I knelt for our starved country, and grief

wrapped around my sleep, landing safely in my arms.

My father, I dream of your flame. I miss the woods

and your kind goodbyes. Tomorrow is a keyhole

that shapes my hopes with tiny possibilities.

If I could rise like grass from dirt, then

my nerves would be brave and the smell of the sun

would heal me with prayers.

If my eyes were an ocean where the whale

and the seahorse gathered, then I could see mercy

in the shark’s primitive teeth, I would

lie on the surface of a wave,

catching the colours of dusk with

my out-stretched tongue.

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Copyright © 2000 by Allison Grayhurst

3005

amazon.com/author/allisongrayhurst

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First published in “Boston Poetry Magazine” titled “In The Silence”, 2013

Boston poetry in the silence 4Boston poetry in the silence 2Boston poetry in the silence 3

http://bostonpoetry.wordpress.com/tag/allison-grayhurst/

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You can listen to the poem by clicking below:

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Lifted

Posted on by Allison Grayhurst

Lifted

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On my shoulder

I feel the weight of many years

being licked into oblivion.

I feel a new being being born

in my shoes. And in the bardo-crossing,

I have tasted the anguish

of change, have touched the

hot poker between palms.

I have cried in my confusion as love

came to clean the dirt in my hair, cut

my fears in two to swim in my belly

like tadpoles collected as a child.

The wind is in me and the apple seed sprouts

its fragile sapling. In my mind I see the world

as never before, see the wolves

as fractured, fragmented souls, sniffing

at my door. I see patterns in the air

holy as the sun. Dreams are believed into truth.

My breath has won.

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.Copyright © 2000 by Allison Grayhurst

3005

amazon.com/author/allisongrayhurst

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.First published in “Temporary Lunatic Literary Zine” November 2015

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http://lunaticlitpage.blogspot.ca/2015/11/lifted-poem-by-allison-grayhurst.html

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You can listen to the poem by clicking below:

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Transfigured

Posted on by Allison Grayhurst

 

Transfigured

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Each day I wear my grief

like metal mesh. I see you

as a spirit burdened to speak.

You try to comfort this field

of wounds. You tend the amputees

and bound the screaming with soft song.

But it is hard for you to stay,

to not let go completely into the light.

I let you go. I make this year my bridge.

Though my heart has ruptured and cannot heal,

and I am forever overcome with this sadness

of our love silenced by brutal, unnamable death,

I will build a new house, dive with both hands

into my yard until the evergreens grow.

I will contain you as more than memory –

in my harvest will bloom many sunflowers

of your great generosity. And your fiery blood

will sprout the roots and flesh of passion fruit.

The maple tree will grow large like you, protecting all

within its strong and tender shadow. And children

will be drawn to this yard, to play there amongst

the tall dramatic grass, and then sit still to watch

with wonder the many shades of sky, reflecting

the warmth of your paternal sun-setting colours.

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Copyright © 2000 by Allison Grayhurst

3005

amazon.com/author/allisongrayhurst

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First published in “Turk’s Head Review”, July 2014

Turk's Head Review 1Turk's Head Review 2Turk's Head Review 3Turk's Head Review 4

http://turksheadreview.tumblr.com/post/92421950406/transfigured

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You can listen to the poem by clicking below:

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