Narratology
Intermission
It’s a new gray day
We had a thunderstorm last night
Hard to tell from the second floor,
Which is too bad
Because I like watching rain
It wasn’t the kind that cleans out
The humidity
More like a tropical experience
Hot and humid for the next spate
Of days, our daily rainfall
Followed by more closeness
In the air
Sigh
Keep the breathing on the inside
And hope the air-conditioner
Holds out
Interaction
The headaches are a little less
I feel more like
Talking with people
Or a pet
A quiet day
But not silent
Though once again
The mean noise from upstairs
Continues
I have to get out of here
I looked at a place last week
A garret, I could call it
To be romantic
But I expect higher ceilings
Wider windows
In my life of La Bohème
More importantly
And to the point or searching,
I need these
The claustrophobe inside
Requires them
More sighing for a disappointment
This time as much
In myself
Intercession
The world is still on fire
If only it were a matter
Of volcanoes*
Bad enough, though we could
Work on them together
There are the metaphoric fires
That are deadly, too
The kind we set
In a plan
To burn up each other
My dear world is on fire
Why must we do this?
Calling it a crime is not enough
When enforcement is
In question, too
I used to think the cops
Were on my side
I still do
As for other people,
There are all kinds
Some see a protest
As an opportunity for
Stealing so much more than
Civil attention
And there are guns
So many guns
All around
Without the trained sense
To use them
Much less over-use them
So people die
On all sides
How many didn’t have to?
Let’s not leave it with a question
Let’s answer them
In memory
To bring the count down
And then out upon the canvas
In this case,
The opposite of conscious
I know I preach
But there it is
I want my world better
It want to leave it better
Than I found it
You should, too
So should we all
Ask for this
Ask for peace
Then let us make it happen
Shooting something’s easy
Keeping a farm
Mining a mine
Building a rocket**
Assembly in a factory
That’s hard
You want a challenge?
Try building something
Raise a barn
A house
A cabin in the woods
Make art for many to love
Compose an inspiration
Maybe on a page
In a mural
Or a house
Or in fixing the plumbing
Anything can be
Larger than it is
Convenience
Comfort
These can be inspiration, too
Or simply means for
A good conversation on a Sunday afternoon
(there should be peace in that)
Voting is an inspiration, too
Don’t forget
Or take the government you get
(cheating nationwide and
in the world notwithstanding)
Talk out the world
Talk out the trouble
Better yet, listen
And fix the plumbing
Feed everyone around you,
If you can
And if you can’t, then enjoy
What is given
Or otherwise provided
Maybe a pot-luck
Like the kind at church
Maybe a pot-luck for the world
That is my intercession
Feed the world
Provide safety in the water
Make good wine
In memory of Cana
Or don’t, if it’s not
Your disposition
There are problems
Hear them
Then get help in fixing them
There are problems
We have a way to go
To have the world
Better than we found it
C L Couch
*I looked up the plural spelling of volcano. (Once-and-future English teacher.) Some say the spelling’s interchangeable with the e. Volcanoes (with the e) seems more traditional and typical. Also the e in interchangeable.
**I was watching October Sky over the weekend.
Photo by Jorik Kleen on Unsplash
(there was no note, but I believe the bridge is in the Netherlands)
clcouch123 
July 7, 2020 at 5:48 pm
Same here, Christopher, 35/100 degrees every day with high humidity. Saps the energy right out of you. Must be difficult for you to try and write, especially with the headaches, but it doesn’t show in your writing; profound and elegant as ever. Would you prefer to be called Rudolfo from now on, or should I stick with Christopher? Perhaps Christopher, the patron saint of travellers is more appropriate as he can then guide you to your new writing space, perhaps a little quieter than you currently enjoy. I don’t think we were ever given a glimpse of Rudolfo’s writing as he slaved away at his craft, penniless, in the attic. If you listen to the media, the world is constantly in a state of suffering, and although I agree somewhat, being a disciple of both Jordan Peterson and Christ, I am sure there are lots of happy untold stories out there. Create don’t destroy, a big amen to that, Christopher. Such a simple solution, but it seems that we will always have creators and destroyers. As children, we build our blocks painstakingly on top of each other only to knock them down. Stay safe, keep well and trust you will find a quieter haven soon.
July 9, 2020 at 7:58 pm
Thank you, Len, for all the good thoughts. I enjoy their welcome. When I was in college, my folklore professor went to great lengths to tell me the story in detail of Saint Christopher. So as a sponsoring saint, goodness, he’ll do just fine. I didn’t know or hadn’t thought that we’re not aware of Rudolfo’s writing.
The irony is that I like noise and would rather have normal noise than silence. Cars driving by (though the stereos are too much, and I wonder why people are willingly damaging their hearing), dogs barking, families living. It’s the heavy, rude, angry noise that is too much, especially through the walls, and worsens the headaches. So, yes, thank you, I’d like to be in a place that is quiet of all that. Back to normal noise. When things are calmer, I also enjoy the racket of the birds and the scritching, cackling noise of squirrels (my cat used to cackle back).
Thank you, too, for your comments about the work. Frankly, I like to think I can do it, anyway.
We do better when we’re making things. I’m enjoying your craft. I hope your week has been going really well.
July 7, 2020 at 7:52 pm
We can
And
Must
Do better.
Here’s to finding a better abode soon, fewer headaches, more constructive acts in the world, a spotlight on
all that is right for a change…..and I can vote for less humidity, too.
July 9, 2020 at 8:02 pm
Thank you! You’ve identified exactly what is needed and have worded it extremely well for a mantra.
Yes, and less humidity. I’m from the South and don’t know how Southerners live with all the close air. Nowadays, my Southern family tells me it’s done with air-conditioning.