about ourselves in the world (2 poems)


to each a Compostela

God give me strength
that might seem out of character
to use
and own

measures for repentance
could be new gifts
inside
the grandest one
and how might we be changing
overall

new direction and new purpose
Matthew
or Zaccheus

those who used to fish for fish

Mary M
freed by touch of demons
new presence
new
bearing
new direction

sometimes they seem constant
Esther
Ruth
and
Deborah

sometimes misdirected
from the start
and
there’s no changing

Ahab
or Jezebel

or sometimes they get it wrong
then get it right
and
might still struggle

Moses
say
or Miriam
Jonah who in fact was
angry
to be changed

and where are we in these
each one on
the line
and how to use discretion
maybe grumbling
to change

the answer’s in the question for
each one
and how
we go
circumstances
yes
and how we change through these
going with or
resisting circumstance
to will ourselves
places alone morality

and what shall be our actions
and our
attitudes
to change or stay the same
somehow to plant and move ourselves
like
contrary pilgrims who begin the path
then stop
then start again


diplomat

inside the world
that changes or that stays the same
frankly
too troublesome
regardless

yet we go out
and
then go in
through foreign doors
to introduce ourselves and then
respond

to status quo
or status
as
it might be changing

charged
general or specific
by those back home who send us with
hopes
or maybe lack of interest
like
the indifferent who live allowably
not following
not voting

our care is for these
regardless
and the set of values we call home
to promulgate perhaps
though
maybe reverse-welcome at our stations
greet
those in their own places

hear their causes
hear more
and then respond
checking back
as
needed though bearing initiative
in
the call as well


c l couch


photo by Alejandra Rodríguez on Unsplash