Outliving the Inevitable by Allison Grayhurst

Outliving the Inevitable

As lions groom
in African lands, so kissing
bends the intent of the assassin,
making safe the fangy mouth
and the weedy waters.
I will lie down in my heaven
though the light breeds in me
like the guts of an unhealable wound
and I fail the simple rule of forgiveness.
I will dig out the bones from the sands
and scissor the serpent’s tongue.
Drunk on complaining, on naming my cloud
my crown, I will find a new rhythm in the oceans
and sleep like one just born. I will talk
to the half-mast moon and translate
the crows’ territorial song.
The old dog snarls and the pigeons seem happy
resting on the window sill.
If I must return to witness the same casualty,
return to tread the sewer’s underbelly, then I will bury
some love in the fall and call the small graces
my exotic fruit.

Allison GreyhurstAllison Grayhurst is a member of the League of Canadian Poets. Three times nominated for Sundress Publications “Best of the Net” 2015, she has over 950 poems published in over 400 international journals. She has sixteen published books of poetry, seven collections and nine chapbooks. She lives in Toronto with her family. She is a vegan. She also sculpts, working with clay.

2 Replies to “Outliving the Inevitable by Allison Grayhurst”

  1. I became “hooked” (if I may use this term) with the line about failing the simple rule of forgiveness … this was when I knew I would re-read this one … and “be with it” a bit longer … the reading of some poems require more than micro-moments … this is one … thanks for sharing it … DaP

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