Blinding

Unyielding heat

joined to the glowing trees

and take-away flowers.

My pleasure is broken

like a dream when waking.

Today I vanquish my delusions, eat

the green strawberry and circle

my loneliness, ghostly but growing

bones and ligaments.

My choice feels like a crime

when there are only some I can help save,

when my soft embrace must yield to stiff arms

and August has just begun –

no shade, no signs of rain.

Copyright © 2021 by Allison Grayhurst

amazon.com/author/allisongrayhurst

 .https://issuu.com/allisongrayhurst/docs/book_32_-ways_of_mercy_-_the_poetry_of_allison_gra

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Published in “Raven Cage Zine” March 2021

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OHHDKazRmtKcCPpR4sco_SrxoK19029c/view

RavenCageZine55

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Published in “Dumpster Fire Press and Voices from the Fire Anthology” April 2021

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Published in “Chicago Record Magazine” March 2021

https://magazine-record.blogspot.com/2021/03/consecrated-in-murky-limpid-place-you.html

https://magazine-record.blogspot.com/2021/03/

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.You can listen to this poem by clicking the link below:

Hurdle

Sorrow finds him,

primary, raw,

leave-taking, unexpected

as a push into freezing waters.

Cold sister of the kill,

hostile in life and in dreams.

It is good you are gone, I think.

I think it would have been better

if you could have gained depth,

and seen it through.

There will be grief. There will be more

hurting, but your ship is out on the ocean

and he doesn’t want you back on shore,

for he knows, nothing is worth holding

that doesn’t want to be held.

He is a Prince whose light is fed from the heavens.

He will experience extraordinary love,

raise children, hold a steady fulfilment

that nothing can snatch away.

There will be a building up after this devastation.

Eventually, he will see this loss as a gift,

a making room for a happiness

that requires no analysis and will not break

when it needs to leap.

Copyright © 2021 by Allison Grayhurst

amazon.com/author/allisongrayhurst

 .https://issuu.com/allisongrayhurst/docs/book_32_-ways_of_mercy_-_the_poetry_of_allison_gra

.

First published in “Synchronized Chaos” April 2021

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http://synchchaos.com/synchronized-chaos-april-2021-escape-room/

http://synchchaos.com/poetry-from-allison-grayhurst-12/

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You can listen to this poem by clicking the link below:

Over

The wound is the wall

that gelds your desire,

prevents the granting

of your destiny –

holder of many secrets, entrusted with

genius vitality, and your mind

leaping into the sacred fires,

emerging with a discovered vocabulary,

a fruit-heavy tree at your disposal, giver

of never-ending nutrients, navigating

a route to the divine.

The wound is the wall,

is nothing in comparison to your offering,

is a miniscule overcoming.

When you know that

you will have arrived on the other side –

the floodgates will open, your great light

will engulf the city, countries, and hearts

of many different flavours.

The wound was the wall

was part of your strength, a glass

to drink from and describe its taste.

A new proclamation

is on the table, telling you

to walk through, accept

your innate purified power,

be received, be recognized.

Copyright © 2021 by Allison Grayhurst

amazon.com/author/allisongrayhurst

 .https://issuu.com/allisongrayhurst/docs/book_32_-ways_of_mercy_-_the_poetry_of_allison_gra

.

First published in “Synchronized Chaos” April 2021

http://synchchaos.com/synchronized-chaos-april-2021-escape-room/

http://synchchaos.com/poetry-from-allison-grayhurst-12/

.

You can listen to this poem by clicking the link below: