Resolved

Resolved

 

 

            Forgetful, in exile,

in the fires of failure,

honouring suffering

like a story told in form,

a totem-working of visual permanence.

            I bore my marriage

to the joyous wilderness in one hand,

and sacrilegious duty

in the other.

            Today, I join these hands

to create stability, sanctuary,

creativity touching ground and discipline.

I burn the dead wood, releasing

my prisoner-identity and climb out of

the fishnet into deep fulfillment like

into a valley with a lake and untamed

foliage all around.

            The pull and tug of two lives is gone,

tension internalized as useful energy,

as something to be incorporated, harnessed,

the generator of a mature dream – a dream

with no division, bound,

and happy to be bound.

 

 

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 “Atunis Galaxy Poetry and anthology” March 2021, August 2021

https://atunispoetry.com/2021/03/19/allison-grayhurst-canada/

https://atunispoetry.com/2021/03/

https://www.lulu.com/en/us/shop/and-international-poets-and-hannie-rouweler/atunis-galaxy-anthology-2022/paperback/product-n5g48k.html?fbclid=IwAR1mKGISmlWXwnPXUy20mNRM4DKCF-zRuLxqRKVrUKuvtnRlDbDIDYsQ_i4&page=1&pageSize=4

.

.

Published in “Synchronized Chaos” April 2021

Synchronized Chaos April 2021 1Synchronized Chaos April 2021 2Synchronized Chaos April 2021 3Synchronized Chaos April 2021 Resolved 1Synchronized Chaos April 2021 Resolved 2Synchronized Chaos April 2021 bio

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:

Onward

Onward

 

 

Becoming passes into being,

and heightened intensity

is restored – every moment,

alert and bearing anxiety

for the reasonable necessity it is,

in this time, this coming year

of upheaval and uncertainty.

 

            No joy will ever exceed the joy

            found when the light restored in your eyes,

            and your arms embraced mine from the

            hospital bed where you lay in a blue cloak

            with tubes and needles, and your mind, finally aware,

            your heart, at once fragile with shock and fear,

            but vital, perpetual in its outpouring love.

 

            Beautiful son, 18, eclipsing every ideal

            with your innate wisdom, compassion and energy,

            leaping in youthful courageous commitment, tough

            where you need to be, strong and accomplished, kind

            like the sun is kind by rising, and the hawk

            as it flies overhead calling, driving home the mystery

            and the majesty of the dream.

 

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 “Atunis Galaxy Poetry and anthology” March 2021, August 2021

https://atunispoetry.com/2021/03/19/allison-grayhurst-canada/

https://atunispoetry.com/2021/03/

https://www.lulu.com/en/us/shop/and-international-poets-and-hannie-rouweler/atunis-galaxy-anthology-2022/paperback/product-n5g48k.html?fbclid=IwAR1mKGISmlWXwnPXUy20mNRM4DKCF-zRuLxqRKVrUKuvtnRlDbDIDYsQ_i4&page=1&pageSize=4

.

.

Published in “Synchronized Chaos” April 2021

Synchronized Chaos April 2021 1Synchronized Chaos April 2021 2Synchronized Chaos April 2021 3Synchronized Chaos April 2021 Onward 1Synchronized Chaos April 2021 Onward 2Synchronized Chaos April 2021 bio

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:

Figurine

Figurine

 

            In the middle, anywhere,

the Earth becomes a song,

a vision of its collected souls.

            As the snake inches forward, then

consumes the still frog, the frog

thinking its camouflage and stillness

is enough protection, but it is not,

as high above nebulas continue to spin and stars

touch stars and explode.

            How much compromise is permitted

before love loses its purity, its testimony to truth?

What is the threshold, obvious when reached,

when the deformity is complete and love

melts into a wickless waxy blob,

incapable of sustaining any flame?

 

            In my mind, I am seeing you

as when I was 15, 21, 45,

seeing your dazzling eyes,

the lightness in your walk,

your unencumbered joy, remembering

our summers spent in Montreal, Phoenix, Toronto,

in renewing conversations and camaraderie.

            In my mind, I will think of you

as one who has died and is not coming back.

Another spirit gone, to be thankful for

that you once were – like my father,

my many cats, rats, birds, big black dog

and my mentor.

 

            You slipped on the mud, slipped up

and couldn’t return or find the courage to keep on the path.

You detoured into the plastic city, with plastic

placements, plastic bedrooms and digital relationships.

            Poverty is hard, but still,

I expected so much more from you.

I thought we would take this to the end together –

as family does.

            You broke our pact. You broke my heart.

The whole of a heavy high wave has collapsed on my back,

and the once singular flourishing mountain that was us,

has cracked down its centre, nothing left

but a barren flatland –

not a sprout, not a sound, not an insect,

soulless, seedless, dreamless, forsaken.

 

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 “Atunis Galaxy Poetry and anthology” March 2021, August 2021

https://atunispoetry.com/2021/03/19/allison-grayhurst-canada/

https://atunispoetry.com/2021/03/

https://www.lulu.com/en/us/shop/and-international-poets-and-hannie-rouweler/atunis-galaxy-anthology-2022/paperback/product-n5g48k.html?fbclid=IwAR1mKGISmlWXwnPXUy20mNRM4DKCF-zRuLxqRKVrUKuvtnRlDbDIDYsQ_i4&page=1&pageSize=4

.

.

Published in “Raven Cage Zine” March 2021

Raven Cage - March 2021 1Raven Cage - March 2021 Figurine 1Raven Cage - March 2021 Figurine 12jpgRaven Cage - March 2021 bioRaven Cage - March 2021 3

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

RavenCageZine55

.

.

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