Poetry by Alison Hurwitz

Kimmo Räisänen CC



The Poem Reads You
After Pádraig O’ Tuama

Of course, it goes both ways.
If you drift and let the words braille
you into gooseflesh, they will raise 
their cadence through your skin. You’re in, 
and now you too, must breathe in stanzas.

The poem shades perspective into every
solitude, outlines the shape of aperture,
places echoes in your mouth, 
until you are a cave the poem 
enters, just to hear its words return.

Sometimes, it bends you, breathless, 
over it, quickening your pulse, licks 
a metaphor along your spine, then, 
once you are unmade, the poem’s tongue 
enunciates each transfixed line,

makes your mind snowglobe to motes 
before you coalesce. Never skim it lightly. 
Each word has its own cipher, its volition. 
The poem reads you, each iamb 
intentional,  

for not a syllable of you 
is ever left 
to chance. ​



Alison Hurwitz has most recently been featured in Global Poemic, Words and Whispers Journal, Poetry in the Time of Coronavirus Volumes 1 and 2, Writing in a Woman’s Voice, Tiferet Journal and is upcoming in the Amethyst Review and Book of Matches Lit Magazine. On the second Saturday of each month, Alison facilitates a free online poetry reading, Well-Versed Words.  Poets interested in appearing on Well-Versed Words may message her at https://www.facebook.com/Iambicreative. She lives with her husband, two sons and rescue dog in North Carolina. Find links to her work at www.alisonhurwitz.com
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