good and plenty
(not that I’m a fan of licorice)

God is good
and God is here

we reach out
to God
while we are here
wishing ours were better
when it’s
not

and also taking time
and sharing words of thanksgiving
for part of that
good
we have

and life goes mingled this way
even
with the Lord
and we persist in this adulterated life
because we should and is
our impulse to go
on

not
to wish ourselves to heaven
way before it’s time
or
whenever
the surprise to know

with
sadness left behind
while on the way toward joy in paradise

and this
is how it goes
as well
a mingled afterlife

and
not
to say this life is a rehearsal only
for it’s not

while it is for what comes after
it is its own
for dreaming and for realizing dreams
with
accountability along the way

so if frustrating
not
to have virtue instantly
rewarded
there is nonetheless
far-down peace that rises
through our flesh and to
our eyes
and mouths

to exude and share
what
we might know of lasting joy
that like the class activity to tell and
show

even the love of God and love as God
on Earth

c l couch


(allusion aside, the candy licorice fan would be my sister)

photo by The Nix Company on Unsplash