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[UK] Kristina Helene Bray
Wakeful In the Silent House
Wakeful in the Silent House
The breath of sleep still in the air
And all the world in rest adrift
Cares not to think that I am there
And I, awake, a stranger am
On antlered pools a casting light.
Though threading through a world of foes
I find new paths and strange delights.
Could step from this cruel, wracking coil
Onto the breadth of counterpane
Or tread the sea, or touch the stars
Or call the storm to quiet again
I could from here in a heartbeat
The breadth of trembling Afric go
Join others in slumbering mist
In farther walks my ways to go.
Wakeful in the silent house
I think perhaps that it is fair
To know, while others know not what
And think while all are unaware.
The Breath of Life
The breath of life was not meant just for earth.
Once, wandering in a dark and noisome space
A soul looked up and saw the stars in heaven
Shine bright and in that time forgot disgrace.
And for that beat in all creation it
Felt in its heart something more than despair
A fragile thing that trembled in the whirlwind
Yet warmed the naked spirit standing there.
Twilight it was and all the world was wrapped
In purple gauze enfolded by bright stars
While birdsong waited breathless on the wing there
For night birds hallo. In that moment was
A hush like that which in the still of morning
On that first day, in that first dawn was heard
A promise – who knew what? – but new and rising
Thrilling the heart with promises unheard
A magic born of weightless, breathless, wonder.
She saw and looked and loved the moment there
For promising not giving, not for plunder
But because it was fair dreaming of fair.
She looked and loved and moments later she
Stood tall in light and peace, once more on high,
And wondering asked “Why is this gift I asked not?
“I never thought of this and will not lie
“Though wish with all my heart to stay, for my home
“I now recall this is and was, but I
Asked not, thought not...” And there she paused and shivered
In fear and longing for leaving she'd die.
The answer rose in laughing then, in wonder
Dancing in joy like dawn upon the sea
At first wordless, a touch, a scent of morning
And then a voice. “Listen, dear one, to me.
You asked nothing but gave in love and wonder
That others saw what you might not. You die
A thousand times when you believe a boundary
But those who love raise hope up to the sky.”
About the author:
Kristina Helene Bray, a famous young poetess in contemporary UK and currently working in Britain. She is twenty six years old and still trying to figure out exactly how that happened. Kristina was born in Eastbourne, England, on the 21st of April 1983 and was reportedly quoting poetry by the time that she was eighteen months old. At the age of three her mother taught her to write and she has been putting her ideas on paper ever since. Kristina began publishing her work at the age of eleven, and by fifteen had seen her poetry included in a professional anthology. Her poetry has since appeared in both books and anthologies, and her work has been exposed to a worldwide audience. She has been published in a variety of mediums, including audio CD, and loves the idea that at any moment someone somewhere in the world might just be listening to one of her poems. Kristina prefers appearing under her own name rather than using a nom de plume but on occasion has been published under the name Tina Bray and – due to a printing error in an early publication – the names Kirsty and Katrin. She has published literary criticism and short fiction as well as poetry, and has won several prizes. Kristina has written four books of poetry. When not wrestling with her first novel she is also working on one book for teenagers and a collection of short horror fiction. In spare moments she collaborates on a story book for young children entitled The Christmas Mice, which she intends to submit for publication next year. She is currently editing a fifth book of poetry and hopes to see something from that collection published soon. |
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