12 February 2024
today is
Lincoln’s birthday
as I recall
most years
uncongealed
from the
single
Presidents Day
and
yes
ten days from now
is Washington’s
Lincoln was
from Kentucky
as was I
though much taller
when he grew
much taller
about everything
adding that hat
for greater
height
he split rails
the kind for fences
I believe
maybe to be ready for
a fenced-in nation
he took us
through the worst
making mistakes
I’m sure
and losing children
maybe
tens of thousands
of these
whose names
might as well have been
Edward
William
Thomas who went by
Tad
the ones who died then
and the others
later on
as
a tragic legacy
and in two days we’ll celebrate
romantic love
which has me recall
the story of
how Lincoln first encountered
Mary Todd
saying he’d like to dance
with her
in the worst way
and then
proceeding to prove that
and she endured
poorly
as the war happened
and then
once it was over
she lost her family
viscerally
terribly
one child remained
as company
for her
remaining days
the President would turn
215 today
which means
he wouldn’t
but in remembrance
where his years
as in heritage
are eternal
he made mistakes
I’m sure
but he was whom
we needed
for splitting fences
in and of
themselves
the biggest
worst metaphors
barriers
having been made
by slavery
with other interests
from the states
that having been decided
in a sibling war
could turn out be
the U.S.A.
a single entity
imperfect
but so far indivisible
again
c l couch
photo by Ron Graham on Unsplash
The Sea of Galilee
(that also goes by other names)
I’ve heard it preached:
a storm on Galilee
that must be something else
to see,
to hear,
to feel,
to smell,
to taste.
To wonder about
disciples
living fear
about the squall,
waking Jesus
for salvation,
Don’t you care?
Yes,
I care
that you are saved
(to paraphrase).
And then
Christ
commands the storm
on the water,
in the sky,
maybe at the shore
to be quiet.
And it’s quiet
over Galilee.
C L Couch
the preacher preached this morning about this sea, though anything I say above is of my own accord, especially anything doctrinally incorrect
Photo by Sylvain Brison on Unsplash
Sea of Galilee
The Dragon Year
Would you like
To make friends with a dragon?
Flying with it
Perched somehow
Between its wings?
The thing is
Well,
The thing is
It’s a dragon
It’s big
It’s long
It has scales
It’s powerful
With wings
And claws
And when it chooses
Exhaling fire
An aircraft carrier
In the ocean
Between islands
Might let
The dragon land
While sailors worry about
This temporary
Guest
And those in planes
Might worry,
Too,
About what’s flying
Next to them
That waves with wings
While the sun
Blinks off its armor
And its talons
But mostly
It is a matter of
What’s really inside
The dragon
As in
What are its intentions?
What is it plan?
Dragons are powerful
But it’s the good
Or bad
We might have
To know
Before deciding
How close
And is it possible
To be a friend with it
Maybe if it’s lying down,
You could move
Closer to its head
To talk
Maybe to have
Its name
And give it yours
And ask,
Well,
What are its plans?
Maybe it’s here
For a year on Earth
Before
Going on to other worlds
Maybe some
That are replete with flying serpents
Maybe one world that is
Its first home
Maybe
While it’s here
It will
Teach us about power
That it is neither
Good
Nor
Bad
But we must make it so
We must decide
And it will not make us choose
But sort of
Sit and stand
And fly, of course,
To show that power
Is immense
Sometimes
And sometimes
It will be there
Sitting
Standing
Flying
Ready for us
To be good
Or bad
With it
So that
Enormous questions
For the answers
Might be ours
As in
What are our intentions?
What are our plans?
And so we have this dragon
To consider
Maybe
Maybe to ride upon
As well
If we can negotiate
The wonder
And also,
Well,
To think about the dragons
We have made:
Our larger things
And all
That we can do
With these
While we have this special year
With our magic,
Divine
Visitor
That might protect
Even defend us
Should we learn the language
And the manner
In dealing with dragons
Like this dragons
Or the dragons
We must own
Now and
Once it’s left us for
Another year
And more,
That is,
Eleven more
During which with
All the more enormous
Creatures
Of our own
We’ll be creaturing
C L Couch
Photo by Michael Buillerey on Unsplash
Binondo, Manila, Philippines
day without asking
day without asking
unsaid what is borne by hours
twenty-foured season
C L Couch
Photo by Quino Al on Unsplash
Westmarch
sometimes I wish
I were a
well-to-do hobbit
except for
the living
in the ground
even a comfort-home
in there
would aggravate
most likely
claustrophobia
as being carried by
an eagle
would invoke
the other
unreasoned fear I have
but still
to have a day
to write a book
of my adventures
having had
adventures
first
and to have tea
close at hand
with cakes
and at a table
by the window
with my pens
(all right
computer)
and paper
at my side
and on which
I write
(well
type)
and maybe to have
friends
who come to call
for friendly reasons
only
I hear their stories
while
I also think
on dragons
Dwarves
and Elves
and wistfully
believe
I should be somewhere else
with them
c l couch
photo by Andrew Seaman on Unsplash
look out now
merest blue
it seems
with
a guess
more than a hint
of more light
behind
what do we call it
pre-pre dawn
that
spell-check
would challenge
when we
write about this
later
expect it
o be cold
and so allowably
do
what we do
a time
to pull around
more clothing
from the bed
or closet
on the chair
(maybe
the floor)
to find some extra
socks
(maybe on
the floor)
drink water
also look for something
warm
that could be from
another body
or if alone
from coffee
or if not
from both
nice morning
well
a morning
like a morning
should we not stop
by
the fence
somewhere
to look around
without our eyes
to get it
this happened
yesterday
and
it’s extraordinary
‘morning
everyone
look around
c l couch
photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash
(update on the computer shutdown from a few days ago)
my computer is not working right, though it’s okay in bouts (me, too); a friend suggested I use a table fan to deal with overheating (maybe for both of us), and she’s right—the measure seems to work for now though it’s probably an unrealistic arrangement for durance
https://edgeofhumanity.com/2024/02/06/longing-for-the-god-who-stays/
second publication in Edge of Humanity
again,
I am published in the magazine
of text and imagery
Edge of Humanity
I am more than second bout
of gratitude
I also feel lucky
like the Irish side
might feel
from time to time
more thanks
to Jo
editor and curator
and may I say
you should read
enjoy
be changed
by the magazine
that sponsors
galleries
of words
and sculpture
also acrylics
watercolors
photographs
a panoply
and celebration
of the arts
that should
change us
Christopher
(C L Couch)
Photo by Steve Douglas on Unsplash
Prayer for Me and Everyone
(and everyone who needs to pray this way)
O God
Our help
Help me
Keep me safe
And sane enough
For jazz
Or really
For the world
Largely indifference
But with those
As we say
(as I say)
Who’d just as soon
Cheat you
As smile at you
(who cheat you
first
by smiling
at you)
Really
Though
I need your company
And to feel it
Please
As companionship
If I may ask
Not so much
As a judge
Even though you are
And shall
And woe to me
When that business
Comes
And
Yes
I’m thinking
Like the Amish farmer
Who when asked
If saved
Replied
For all this faith
And service
I hope so
And I hope so
Though there is a world
That needs you
Even for orneriness
And even
Scorn
And hatred
For the differences
It fears
While some of us find
Difference
Interesting
And how did I evolve
This way
Conservative
Yet believing
In the prismatic way
One light becomes
Well
Help me
Lord
Please
I am too poor
Without resources
To do much
But I am I
Such as that is
And it seems
According to doctrine
And the smallest
Mustard-seed
Like
Miracles that happen
You persist
Somehow perfectly
In loving me
And keeping me
And I’d like to ask
And will
About my friends
By blood
And choice
And happenstance
And for a world
That’s cracked
And losing air
To please give everyone
A chance
And then another
We need you
In unknowing
We are a cloud of witnesses
If a stormy
One
You made
And let become
Over ages
Where is Eden now
Where are the rivers
And the perfect
Vegetation
And shall
We ever
Know such things again
As at the start
If that
The angel on assignment
Could step down
And lowering
The sword on fire
Raise the other arm
Then say
The trialing time is over
Welcome back
C L Couch
Photo by NASA Hubble Space Telescope on Unsplash
simplicity for
haiku in and of itself
so much undefine
c l couch
photo by Viviane Okubo on Unsplash
clcouch123 
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