more than Camelot
(31 December)
I tend to think
at
this moment
the long moment of the final day
of
Tennyson
(yes
Tennyson)
who has the last of Camelot
fallen
surrendered by Excalibur
the end of the year
with
the last
knight on the last steed
without a castle
or
a realm
riding into what is timed as the first day
of the new year
meaning
a new age
perforce
Tennyson’s own age
perhaps
our own
modern age
in which we must live
with machines
ending relationships
empire without nobility
but
greed to drive itself
and we are left
without
romance except nostalgia
of a time
we cannot know
and
so
happy new year
and that’s
all
and isn’t all
we are driven by sensation
cast in ego and in
vanity
it’s true
but
that’s nowhere near
the all that is
since we can do better
choose better
and
that’s it
that’s all if by capacity
somewhat relative
we decide how
we will be
and could we do better than
the phenomenon of resolutions
interesting to voice
and
then inevitable to fail
by
forgetting
and who knows might be forgettable
rather than making calls
for the day
for today
for now
and we could
through better means
re-understand sensation
ego
vanity
as good and even needul things
parts
of us
and choices
too
though except in urgent moments
consider
safe
consider health
consider love
and
yes
in taking such stands
consider what we stand against
the machines of vaingloriousness
that
influence
and keep a bodyguard of lies
enforcing
working inside-out
the cause that cannot last
the hypocrisies
that
will be exposed as crimes
or simple folly
to have followed
we can do better
should
do better
consider what is small
free
to do
say
in deciding love
then go from there
into the year
c l couch
(started with Idylls of the King by Alfred, Lord Tennyson)
photo by Godz1 on Unsplash
libretto
God is a funny old thing
which I suppose
has not been said so often
and
maybe should not be said again
old
though
well
because you know
and funny because
there’s the ostrich
and the platypus
and auk
and us
and we’re funny when we’re not
tragic
such goodness and also
such corruption
and what to do with funny
old
us
not so ole
though we have tried the Earth
over ages
as an image
and are there parts of
the model we’re forgetting
the eccentric
parts
the kind
the giving when the bottom line says no
a resistance to build monuments
and let art live in
other places
other ways
that let stone breathe
and
even plastic we might build with
even to take the things with
which we poison
Earth
flora and fauna and let them speak
creative
while we go creative
first and also practical
because all
our strengths
are
strong out of
belief in ourselves
and
that’s the model
too
for God is all that’s good and also
useful
also beautiful
in all the ways we have been made and not
to judge so much as
dance
remembering the first inspirator
in
our notes
and in our steps
c l couch
photograph by Hans at Unsplash
try
the sun tries
and there’s wind to welcome
blue
to highlight evergreen
with leafless branches whose
slender ballets
look
tireless
and to hear some whispers whose
code
only known between the sky
and these parts
of Earth
try
regardless
and thank goodness
c l couch
photo by Mila Young on Unsplash
a gift
after all
maybe before
could be ribboned
doesn’t
have to be
I think we know
the gift that isn’t easy
that
goes with the giver
while somehow the giver
and the giving
go on
with the one receiving
feeling
grace
because it’s there
to think
and keep
to let it
renew
and I think we know the gift
that might come after
or before
that each one gives
and
by receiving
(with
apologies
to ravens)
there should be
an
evermore
c l couch
photograph by lesha tuman at Unsplash
twelve days a season
Christmas to Epiphany
birth of Christ first day
c l couch
photo by Zephir Brush on Unsplash
God loves change and what remains
and what of God
today
but that God is God
eternal
and unchanging
except in changing
too
since dynamic
as dynamic
seems to be a part of nearly
everything
except
a constant will
and not
to mention perfect love
so we could accept the changes
though we might
have
favorite seasons
c l couch
photo by Venti Views at Unsplash
with those who go for peace this or any day
the afternoon is leaning
as we have this day
to mark
the birth of Jesus
Joshua
who saves
and we have holly
I’m not sure about the ivy
bulbs on trees
of
various materials
that among things
challenge
cats
we have presents out of boxes
or assembled
of a shape that
takes
a ribbon only
and we’ll have special food
that might go heavy
or
go light
so many cuisines practiced
and we could have thoughts for those
without
and go take care of them
or us
depending on our place
and situation
a secular or sacred
day
or how many traditions are expressed
as they are lived
and on this day perhaps
strange
harmony
to be believed
and shared
and those in trenches
of all kinds
though not unlike
1914
could have the adversaries join
or to face reality
we launch from afar
or
that sometimes the trenched place
is a city street
or division
in one
literal family
and then the metaphor
of family
as all of us who are the world
and how we fight
or
have peace
might be affected by a day
more
or less if happily
imposed
and I guess I’ve said
let the true test
go tomorrow
not
by angels though they referee
or act as ancient chorus
but
in the waking light
of culture’s normal day
could fight less
and make
peace
more not because the time of year
says so
but
in a timeless important day
we
say so
c l couch
I think maybe I repeat myself from yesterday—oh, well, eve and now the day—and Merry Christmas with wishes for each a special day!
photo by Ice Angel on Unsplash
how to have Christmas day
I don’t know how you’ll feel
about Christmas
you could be anywhere
your
people and tradition could be
any
and of value and
distinction
for having been made and now alive
on Earth by God
and by yourselves and for
you own
and if yours isn’t Christmas
you might
appreciate the sales
and on the way
attractive and in plaes extraordinary
arrangements of lights
for
the season
you might not be drawn
to those taking Christmas into politics
as
part of a campaign
to manipulate supremacy
a domination as an attitude
a strategy
to win
you may get
or have to live the irony
of the call of Muezzin over all the
lights and music
of
the Christian style
or where these are are small
you might enjoy
the paradox
of harmony
and similar traditions
calling
worship
and remembering that are not Christian
but noble
and valid as services
pursuits of God
and
at this time of year the overwhelming
might
be overwhelming
so maybe we could all
take on
humility
that ever newborn child possesses
restrain
in fact
if by amazement
our aggressions
and our violence
and notions of who’s best and
who
belongs
and who gets to survive
and let us all
regard us all
as worthy of the Lord
and
each other
whoever might be God today
the name
the following
and if we respect
and someday meet at a table
maybe
we’ll keep the harmony
the unity
with all the parts of who we are
and who you are
together
and that’s all
and wish for a happy Christmas day
where
that’s possible
aiming toward a better one
next
time if need be
and we could check on each other
for
tomorrow
not because it’s Boxing Day
but
because it’s any day
of those in traditions
and those owning
none
to love
each other
c l couch
photo by Matthew on Unsplash
once born
and now we must
go to Egypt
for
a while
or forever should the Lord decide
mountains
vales
and
deserts of empire ancient
than the one the called us to the father’s
home in Bethlehem
in
time for this holy birth
though isn’t any baby’s birth
a holy time
go-to of other nations when famine
was famous
our ancestors
certainly
the survival and the sanctity of tribes
to
have a people with what
became a wicked past
and then
a hopeful future
and what shall we see there
and hear
and smell and all our senses know
along the Nile over
the land
and in alien cities there
which
of course are theirs for
home
while we are the refugees
and God knows what we’ll have
of home again
if
dreams and miracles
the rumors of war
shall drive
us
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6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.
Matthew 24:6-8
(NIV)
photo by ian borg on Unsplash
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