if God were speaking on a Monday

what shall God say
but that
I love you
and command you
while you ignore me
and frankly
do much worse
on your own

not that you can’t
invent things
some
many to admit
that carry goodness along
somehow
almost to defy the flaws
you insist
on leading with

things to keep life going
to have ease
in doing other things
if not
the reasons why

that I’m afraid I have
and my host
reveals
which I do not withhold
at all
though you will
have spirit
without me
and so dilute
my love
and certainly
my command

for you know
I am God
and cannot give you names
for me
out of convenience
a god of attribute
interesting
but not conclusive
let alone relevant
in any
situation

I am God
and I love you
and I command
and would direct you
day to day
and in the moments
with perfection
and all
love
and yet do leave you
to yourselves
which might seem puzzling
to think on it
since I could have made you
something propelled
only by
my will

but then what would
you be
the ends of strings
while even angels have
more will than that
and I want
you to be you
in every way
which means
I leave you
to you your own
first on the inside
then the outside
and then how you might affect
this first world
of ours

I love you
and command you
and must have you
be you
even to
the withholding of myself
and ourselves
to let you go
and then come back
and should remain
on your own

and I know
it sounds
as if manipulations
slides
as if
serpentine
through all
but how free
does it seem to you
unless you oppress
each other

how free to decide
on you
and me
and how things are
what is reality
and places in it

how I made you
how I love you
globes of energy
with limbs
and brains
hearts that pump
so much more than blood
though wondrous

all parts
and all parts are yours
not because I say so
but what is

and I was here
and shall return
and shall in spirit
reside
invest this moment
all
for your consideration
and what of the cosmos
I keep going
as in maintaining
anyway

and shall you rise
I hope so
rise through all distractions
that are fallen
and keep you falling
still

decide
then
what you will
and don’t worry
how I judge the rest
that’s up to me
and I know
potential
and ability
take each one on
sometimes in pairs
and finally a people
with a fate

now let’s
find out
what that is
maybe together

c l couch


photo by Hamdhulla Shakeeb on Unsplash 
Isle
Maldives, Maldives
published 12 hours ago [2 p.m.]