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January 2021

Friendly Persuasion

(x = space)

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Friendly Persuasion

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May I ask you to stay in today?

To leave to do your work

Or run errands

With a mask on?

In this moment, we are the worst

On Earth for responding to the disease

x

Thank goodness we have

All the measures that we have

In place, facilities and people

Exhausted now, even the facilities

x

We don’t want to pay attention, I suppose

As a teacher, I can understand

I don’t always like

Paying attention, either

But, come on,

We pride ourselves at being good

At things—where is that now?

Are we all about impeachment?

I’m not

I’m trying to live on

Very small steps, just now

Many taken in adaptation

x

Well, it will be a day

That is beginning

And you will have a day that starts

Maybe there will be some magic

Maybe grace

We can hope for both

While chores and greater challenges

Take our time

x

And, by the way, the people in Flint, Michigan

Need safe water

In the USA

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C L Couch

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the title is swiped—I mean, uh, an homage—to a story about a Quaker family and the Civil War

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CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1226563

filed under “peaceable kingdom” at Wikipedia (really)

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Assignment Earth

(x = space)

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Assignment Earth

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A return to three dimensions,

Grace is brief

x

It splits through time,

Calls to the source,

And invites us there

While claiming in the world

Surprise and alteration

x

Miraculous intervention

Owned by none

But gives of itself

Until what it bears is gone

x

A life changed,

Spirit re-knit,

A reason to go on

If not in gratitude

Let alone astonishment

x

Maybe something to think about,

Maybe only forward motion

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C L Couch

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The photograph was taken by Joseph Schultz, my nephew.  He enjoyed a job with the Fish and Wildlife Service on Midway Island and now lives in Wilmington, North Carolina.  The world is his future.

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Quicksilver

(x = space)

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Quicksilver

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O God, our help

Help me now

There is sunshine

I should like it

And be thankful

I should be thinking forward

You know, make a plan

Take a firm step

In a new direction

While respecting

Where we’ve been

Amen

x

C L Couch

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Photo by Adrien Converse on Unsplash

Bellingham, United States

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No Tricks

(x = space)

x

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No Tricks

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God help us

God will help us

If we ask

x

Though God is not a raven

Or a spider

Or a god who wants

To play immortal pranks

In Asgard

x

God is closer to a dragon:

Power contained,

Always ready for release

Of power

Or of learning

Then

Reveal

x

Guardian of treasures,

Keeper of wisdom

x

What do we want—

What do we want of God?

God is curled up to rest

Or stretched

While flying through the sky

And so much higher

Without need for air

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Would we like to go,

Would we like to ride with God?

x

We might have to go through

A mountain,

First,

Or out until we find

A howling island

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Or inside

Our capillaries

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Once there,

Mind your manners

Around dragons

x

C L Couch

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by Battle Brook – File:Valhallas.jpg, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=84903609

Valhallas’ Asgard and Midgard peaks seen from north

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1

The Village Maker

(x = space)

x

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The Village Maker

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Around the Christmas tree,

My mother used to arrange

A winter’s village

x

We knew it was winter

Because a sheet had been

Wrapped around

The base and all,

The buildings set inside the folds

x

There were houses,

Naturally, most with

Peaked roofs though

There was one house top

That was crenellated

x

Cardboard walls (and roofs)

Had been painted somehow

In manufacturing

With coats of glitter

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There was a church with

Paper stained-glass windows

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There were people

Plastic or metal

I’m not sure,

Walking through town

x

There might have been a bench

For one or two to sit upon

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There were people, I believe,

Set in a one-horse sleigh

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There was a pond for ice

And skating, and there were

Ice-skaters there

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The pond was a small mirror

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I thought that was so clever

Of my mother

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There were holes in the backs

Of the houses and

The church,

Through which light bulbs

Were pressed and a wire,

All connected so that when

The tree was lit, the

Village was illuminated, too

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C L Couch

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Photo by Gard Skaar Johansen on Unsplash

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2

Wording

(x = space)

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Wording

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Magic in words

A phrase I’m sure that has been said

In many times and places

Media

Many languages

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For it must seem that way

The way words can turn things

I suppose like many things

They have no value

Until applied

Character in the one

Who speaks or writes

Agenda, too

An open one shows fortitude

The hidden one a kind of cowardice

x

They can start wars

In fact, we have to say

They are declared

Then words are needed, after

In treating peace

x

There is so much more to say

Your turn

Use your words

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C L Couch

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Photo by Damon Lam on Unsplash

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2

Shipwreck of State

(x = space)

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Shipwreck of State

(in pandemic time)

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By the way, the highest number

Of cases was reported

Yesterday

But this mass lack of perspective

Child’s bid for attention

Ersatz use of masks

x

We don’t want to care, anymore

We have sick to care for

Too many dead to bury

In decency,

Though we’ll try

x

It isn’t that important,

The thing inside white buildings

In the capitol,

State houses similarly infected

x

There is disease,

And there is disease

Politics aside—and that’s it, isn’t it?

Putting aside what is

Supposed to serve us

With our money

With our votes

With belief

x

We have lives to deal with

And lack of life to mourn,

x

Which is the real nation

That like church

Means all the people

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C L Couch

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Photo by NOAA on Unsplash

Bow of the TITANIC

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5

it’s hours after

(x = space)

x

x

it’s hours after

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what do I really want to say

that I wish it hadn’t happened

that I wish ashli babbitt

hadn’t been shot and killed

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that I wish invaders hadn’t taken over

the senate chamber, though

maybe politicians will think

twice about the room

in which they serve

x

maybe many people will think twice

I want to pray

mercy for the misguided

to be specific, I’ll need

an angel to point out everyone for me

x

c l couch

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Photo by Maxim Tajer on Unsplash

Lipno nad Vltavu, Černá v Pošumaví, Czech Republic

Fire Tornado

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1

What We Will

(x = space)

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What We Will

(6 January)

x

I don’t have anything

For you, but

There is this:

There is a story

x

It is winter, now;

We have passed Twelfth Night,

The yule log is expiring

In the manor home,

Epiphany will have

Its celebrations;

x

Winter, then, will be

Full upon us

In the north;

x

And it will be, between

Any festivals, such a

Good time for stories

And storytellers

x

Who should be invited

Then blessed on their way

To comfort others in

diverse ways.

x

Should there be no tellers

At hand, then we must

Become them—every group

Has a story,

After all;

And if yours has none to tell,

Then write it

(there will be a text

for now, for later on)

And then tell it:

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Hear it, everyone!

In the north, it is

Such a good time for this.

x

C L Couch

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Photo by Lance Anderson on Unsplash

Akron, United States

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