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October 2023

Illusion or Reality; Late at Night, You Know

(x = space)

x

x

Illusion or Reality

x

Do we know illusion

The things out of the corners

Of our eyes

I see my cat

From time to time

x

But an actual illusion

Actual

Something we sense

That isn’t there

It might shape

For our senses

But really

Is a thinking

And misthinking

Of our minds

And hearts

Misallied

In the moment

Or maybe all the time

x

Have we seen some things

That are not there

How does this match

With illusions

In our attitudes

Beliefs

And minds toward things

x

The illusion is for fun

Mismanaging our thoughts

Is something else

x

And now reality

Which is something

As it is

Material

No argument

About it

x

The rock is real

Our eyesight

When it’s measured

The Earth is real

When we stand upon it

x

Yet there’s the question

Real or illusive

Do we have the handle

Are we confident

With our machines

Even machine

Logic

x

In a relativistic age

It’s hard

Sometimes

To tell

Though it’s our invention

For an age

To twist ourselves

Maybe by people

Who make money from it

Or harbor an illusion

(hah)

For power

An abstract

Made of will

Always another

Added to our own

x

We could be superheroes

Cape or helmet

But then

That is illusion

For

Yes

Our entertainment

Though there is inspiration

Too

In these images

And faultless actions

x

Hmm

A reason for illusion

To prop up

Even to help direct

Reality

Remove the versus

Then

Consider

Allied with

Even for fuller comprehension

Even for fuller life

x

In the air

Through the barriers

Who is that

It’s us

x

x

something for Friday

something pre-Hallowe’en

for when you are

we are

midnight persons

x

and now

something about midnight

x

x

Late at Night, You Know

x

Midnight

It isn’t really midnight

Three o’clock is midnight

Which might be why

He had bad things happen

At 3:15

x

Midnight for stories

Nonetheless

And a witching hour

Whose story we might not

Really know

What were the practices

Done in an hour

If that

Or more

Or longer

x

Midnight and shadows

Where are the shadows

In the night

Well

With the moonlight

Or our

Artificial arrangements

Against total darkness

‘til the dawn

x

So there are shadows

There are shapes as well

Of new dimensions

Taller

Without features

For a face

x

Except we know that one is there

Something devilish

Autonomic

Human

Is there

And we shall know too late

If there’s identity

After the action

Or is stands there

A small tower

Over us

‘Til we have the fortitude

To move away

x

Shall there be ghosts

And shall there be story

For us to set down

Until dawn

Or share from what we know

And what we don’t

For comfort

Or for titillation

Until dawn

x

We should remain

Keep our souls inside

It might be just a story

Or a real thing

Inside

x

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Nika Benedictova on Unsplash

x

0

Small, Insistent Formulae

(x = space)

x

x

Small, Insistent Formulae

x

Sigh

Let’s love

Love

And make it practical

I’ll carry this for you

You could make something

For me

x

Keep it civil

Better courteous

Keep respect

For remembrance

In our heads

Our chests

Wherever better spirits

Dwell

x

And sing for love

Upon our stages

Certainly

Inside our homes

And in any congress

We might have

Outside

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Larm Rmah on Unsplash

x

0

The Other News

(x = space)

x

x

The Other News

x

Yet there were

Earthquakes

In Afghanistan

Thousands died

First aid

And reconstruction

In rapid action

So wide to bear

x

We must put this in our heads

Because

The news is dire

Elsewhere

Like 9/11

And what happened anywhere

Save in New York

Pennsylvania

And Washington, D.C.

x

But this is dire

Sisters

And this requires response

Brothers

From the healthy

Those with jobs

So much material

And money

Those who can volunteer

Exigent skills

x

MSF is there

Unless politics gets in the way

Also the Red Crescent

And all the groups that monitor

And respond

x

Then in time

We have to contemplate

How to keep things

Such as quakes like this

Tsunamis and eruptions

Elsewhere

From happening

Though we’re better at

The monitoring

At least

x

And prevention

Might affect

A war as well

From happening

x

And what else

Is happening

Out there

Let’s find out

Please

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Sohaib Ghyasi on Unsplash

x

0

the war today

(x = space)

x

x

the war today

x

hundreds

Israel

Palestine

(with or without authority)

the USA

with victims

and providing weapons

for generations

now

and more

now

x

no one to think

to fee

approves of war

it is a way

to add in destruction

to the fray

of parties

in fact

releasing demons

in explosions

and in decisions

made in trenches

x

it is

a morality play

but without the play

no stage

or actors

costumes

properties

or anything

pretend

no sound with fury

unless inside

our engines

and for real

x

abstract the numbers

maybe

but not really

each number is you

each number me

a count of two or more

is us

x

Hamas did something evil

and now Israel responds

these are

the necessary evils

really necessary

enacted

in fact

happening

with missiles

and with hostages

x

who fights with righteousness

there is some

who fights with anger

well

there is rage

in war

against which

disconnection

typically unreal

might become

a strategy

x

the count means something

more so each one

for family

immediate and extended

remains returned

they make the greater

weight in war

remaining heavy

after any

resolution

x

we hear the tremulous

inside the news

terror in correspondence

x

who shall win

someone already knows

and shall we keep the faith

to learn again

so many things allowed

too many

for the self to bear

and afterward

decide

x

we hope

we tap the moments

we wait

in abject dullness

abject fear we’ve heard about

we know

static as if frozen

except

who are first-responding

x

and in the devilry

with those who try to set up

what is next

knowing

war has lost control

when

the head is hit

the heart of us is bleeding

x

there is no sense

except

when the damning thing

is over

not over there

but done

everywhere

x

I am afraid

(I mean afraid

the feeling

the thought

the sensation

unconversationally)

I’ve said this

before

x

but honestly

I want to vote for life

and have all our ballots

count

for penitence

new lines

perhaps

x

maybe returning

if no better

to the tension

inside negotiated

peace

x

what is the end

shall we exhale

torn earth

torn bodies

torn hearts

muscular and divine

let it all

let all the evil

x

well

let’s finish with all that

and having learned

or will

to sew

to build with stone

because there will be

so much to patch

to build back up

for life

or to inter

those who must rest

from life

for now

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Karsten Winegeart on Unsplash

x

3

Blameworthy

(x = space)

x

x

Blameworthy

x

I can blame

I’ll take the side of Israel

Though this time ‘round

There were other people there

When they returned

Like the Canaanites

I suppose

From Bible school

x

And shall I blame

Hope for trumpets

Toppling Jericho

And fire from breaking urns

Surrounding Midia

x

Is it possible

To weep for land

For everyone on land

To have a home

x

I rent mine

It isn’t nice

But there are no explosions here

Unless the furnace blows

Or there’s a plane

Falling

Whose engine is the last thing

I shall hear

x

Meaning everywhere is delicate

I suppose

Everywhere is fragile Earth

With fragile people on it

Fragile war

That tears apart

The fabric of two people

Rent for love

Sometimes

Or satisfaction

Or in the ritual triumph

Of human judgment

x

But lives are torn

The limbs

Muscles

And bones

Organs shut down

Or live ones acting

To help the others

Shot

Or shrapneled

Or the everything

Atomized

Near the missile’s

Falling

Landing

x

I am frightened

So are you

War does not

In fact

Breed confidence

Fire a gun

Wish it were over

Launch a missile

Hoping that the war will end

With that

x

Our fluid thoughts

And justifications

But there’s real loss

To square

And for now

In this

Is anyone

Considering

At least the people

On all sides

Who want to live

And now

(700, 500)

Have had that robbed

Of them

x

Russia inspires

Perhaps

With current policies

That have led

To so many dying

Destroyed on either side

(worse in Ukraine)

And there

Are other nations

Backing

Sides

x

Our Congress is included

And the people

In our churches

In the streets

Who have a reason

To protest

And pinch

The politicians forward

x

And are there strings

Is there a puppet-master

I don’t know

I want it over

Punishing Hamas

And leaving people

Real people

To stanch the blood

Clean up the streets

Rebuild interiors

x

And somehow

Live together

And have life

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Pierry Oliveira on Unsplash

x

Live: ‘No electricity, no food, no water’: Israel orders ‘complete siege’ of Gaza

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on Monday ordered a “complete siege” of the Gaza Strip, blocking the entry of food and fuel into the enclave and cutting the electricity and water supply. The death toll from the conflict between Israel and Hamas rose to more than 1,200, including around 700 people killed in Israel and nearly 500 in Gaza. Follow our liveblog for all the latest developments. All times are Paris time (GMT+2).

Issued on: 09/10/2023 – 04:41Modified: 09/10/2023 – 15:03

17 min

France 24

9:09 a.m. EDT

x

1

at church in October in the Midwest

(x = space)

x

x

at church in October in the Midwest

x

it all seems soft

maybe it’s all the sweaters

the quieter voices

fewer musicians

I am not complaining

x

it’s an autumn form

perhaps

an instinctive response

to the response

we settle down

at least a little

like the leaves

upon the ground

we retune ourselves

for a new key

that is the winter sound

the keening through the trees

or soughs

over freezing water

as it takes its time to harden

to protect

‘til summer

everything that lives beneath

x

we live protected by the Lord

beneath

above

anywhere we live

slow or fast

we breathe

we try

we pause

to worship

to ask more of our protector

and to say thanks

thank you

Lord

for slower seasons

autumn into winter

for an hour

here and there

to stop

to understand

who is Lord

(who is not)

and why

x

c l couch

x

x

photo by Lucas George Wendt on Unsplash

x

0

in a glorious church

(x = space)

x

x

in a glorious church

x

look at you

Jesus

on such an ornate cross

we don’t truck

with indignity

or even

execution

you’re still alive

up there

though as you die

you die for us

x

rude cross

more like it

wooden beams

thick branches

off the trees

of the Earth

we say the nails were iron

ongoing execution business

for a smith

with earthly metals

coal to burn

or pieces of wood

cut off

shaved off

something like the matter

of a cross

x

c l couch

x

x

Photo by Michael Newcomb on Unsplash

x

I don’t mean to be a spoilsport about faith and faith art; I do think spiritual simplicity might be important

x

Since we built the church, there were pewter candlesticks upon the altar; Francis Nurse made them, y’know, and a sweeter hand never touched the metal. But Parris came, and for twenty weeks he preached nothin’ but golden candlesticks until he had them. I labor the earth from dawn of day to blink of night, and I tell you true, when I look to heaven and see my money glaring at his elbows – it hurt my prayer, sir, it hurt my prayer. I think, sometimes, the man dreams cathedrals, not clapboard meetin’ houses.

John Proctor

The Crucible

Act 2

x

0

Love Who What When Where and Why

(x = space)

x

x

Love Who What When Where and Why

(maybe you write about the How)

x

Like water

Love works

On everything

Though heaven

Weeping angels know

We try

To resist

To act as if

Hate were strong

Or acquisition

Better

x

We fight

And war

And ask amiss

Try to take

In fact

Without any asking

x

Sigh

Would relenting

Be so bad

It’s there

It persists

It takes

Maybe the problem is

It takes some

Too

x

Does hate do better

Greed improve

A refusal to surrender

Anything

While we believe that grasping

Has its way

x

We believe that love is weak

That is an ego-problem

Like fat

Round babies

Into angels

(thank you, Renaissance)

We miss the majesty

Deny the awful quality

As in filled with awe

Of love

x

The love that sires

Prophets

The pervasive strength

In their messages

x

That births

That follows us to die

When it is time

Sometimes in service

Or in sacrifice

x

Can one own so much

To give it all

There is nothing that is stronger

More impressive

Move over

Avarice

There’s something much more potent

That begins with one

And then with two

And then with three for family

x

The family of Earth

Nature providing

All the elements available

We don’t even have to war for it

Though we might need

A treaty

Like the covenants

x

Or let love be wild

A little

Let it pervade in forest

Observations

To let the group

Even the crowd

Break out in love

To celebrate

To show

Who is the real boss of us

And who would rather be allied

Than

Love mercenary

Ruled

x

For all affiliations

Love means freedom

It means energy

As Blake says

An eternal delight

x

Love is pleasure

Certainly

It’s sex and power

And everything

To share

The tyranny of love

Better poets say is wrong

Release obsession

As all we want unloving

But the guise

Be let go

x

Let love be true

Mostly restrained

By day

Modest in its style

Until safely

We let go

Or in our modest ceremonies

Affirm it is the best

And through it

Know

That we belong

x

 C L Couch

x

x

James 4:3

x

Photo by Linus Nylund on Unsplash

x

0

Love among the Ruins of the Nation

(x = space)

x

x

Love among the Ruins of the Nation

x

Oh

Gee

Let’s

Stop

Let’s love each other

In a real way

That could stop a war

From need

Of bids through Congress

Or parties

Lashing out

To topple strategies

Even the existence

Of

Each other

x

Punishing the dare

To compromise

x

Can you imagine

Love in Washington

D. C.

Love and then

Morality

To say

To say we argue

On our side

With angels

With drawn swords

x

Love instead

The red

The blue

The blue

The gray

The war we will not end

For equal living

Everywhere

x

Separate

But more equal

Come on

You know you believe

It is the essence

Of superiority

And you are

Superior

You know you are

As you are shameless

To the Lord

Whom you evade

By speaking loudly

To your party

That to your side

Deserves the spoils

After everything

Despoiled

x

Love among the ruins

Understood

For you

For us

Not romantically

(Victorian)

Rather too late

Simply

Ruins

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Lavi Perchik on Unsplash

x

0

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