(x = space)

x

x

Maggs

x

Yesterday or recently

(depending on

the rate

at which cop blotters’

notes move on

to general news)

A boy

Who was 7

On a scooter

(child’s fit)

Treading the thing next

To his mother

Was hit by a truck

An NYPD

Tow truck

The driver on his cell phone

When it happened

x

This could be the news

Of the day

If we wanted things

This way

Then move on to pestilence

To wider crimes

To war

x

(sequel)

x

Is there more to say today

Beyond small tragedies

Small hopes

Perhaps

What happens if

Remediation

Anyone who seated at

Any round table

x

Good news

That’s strong and wide

And numerous

Throughout the world

We would talk about these

Too

x

(d.s. al coda)

x

There has to be the larger news

As well

That’s normal

Becoming all the media

In circles

I mean cycles

To see and hear

x

But sometimes

We keep it small

A fire here

Some thieving there

Small

Local tragedies

With ads surrounding

x

Maybe a fundraiser

For a smaller while

Highlighting

Human need

Addressed

x

It’s a mishmash

And

Yes

The larger

Overwhelms the smaller

(the whale that subsumes

the krill)

We might say

The way of the world

And who sets that way

The Earth

God

Or us

Or even us as

God’s

Program directors

x

Well

Signing off

Let’s find out

How things might be arranged

To settle heart and head

Into priorities

Of one day to the next

x

(now d.c.)

x

We must do the things

To do

Address the wicked

Heal the wounded

And remember

x

Remember Lewiston

Tree of Life

Parkland

Columbine

x

Elevate each spirit

In our minds

That has already gone to God

While our ongoing care

And remembrance

Go on

Here

x

And do we learn

Do we get better

Fuller

Sometimes

Sometimes it takes a trend

Some public outrage

Sometimes

Some public mourning

x

We can change

We can grow

What is the main thing

What are

Side things

Which is first

Then second

In our lives

x

How do we moralize

With wisdom

Restraint

Humbly working it out

As if about

To kneel

Before a divine

Committee

That keeps knocking

That keeps asking

x

(30)

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Mike Hindle on Unsplash

x