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clcouch123

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clcouch123

In conversation, I prefer Christopher. My mom named me after Christopher Robin, after all. In writing, I use “C L Couch” (or, more simply, “c l couch”) because the form is genderless and also frankly easier to use. I have awful writer’s cramp. I am an educator more or less retired, more or less due to disability. At present, I live in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania (USA). My writing here I mean to be occasional and also devotional. Either or both. The banner and profile photographs are by my friend and peer Debra Danielson. More of Debbie’s work to be enjoyed is at debradanielson.org. Thanks to each of you and both and all for coming to my blog.

Four Score

(x = space)

x

x

Four Score

x

I’m not sure what to say

Today

A day for remembrance

To respect a President

Who said so

And all the boys

And girls

To men and women

And civilians of all kinds

(were children killed?)

Who died

x

We can’t seek vengeance

Though we went for victory

And that tragically

Is fair to say

We made a war at home

That wasn’t there

Between the rubber drives

And paper drives

And rationed sugar

That was the war at home

We imprisoned

Our own

Now

Remembrance might

Be for learning, too

x

So we are always ready

For the next time

Properly vigilant

With reason

And with passion

x

Victory

Deserved

Marshall plans

After

Win

Too high a cost

We all agree

Rebuild the world

After

Bless the nation

Bless the world

x

Ready at war, which

Has been the

Burden of

A nation

Seek peace

Every day

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Ryan Stone on Unsplash

World War II Memorial, Independence Avenue Southwest

x

0

The Peaceable Kingdom

(x = space)

x

x

The Peaceable Kingdom

(Isaiah 11:1-9)

x

Cheetahs wouldn’t have

To kill,

And they could run with their

Great speed for delight

x

There would not be war,

For everything we wanted

Could be gotten

In a better way

x

We’d have peace with each other;

We’d have so much

Extra time

To do good things

x

Peaceable admittedly

Is an antique word,

But it speaks to potential

To talent

And to quantity

x

Who makes this peace?

God does–

But what shall we have

In the mean time?

x

It’s in our time,

Our will

To make it happen

From able to have peace

To having it;

The worth is us and

Our mortal talents

x

The Earth burns,

Weapons are secretly supplied

To war:

It is crazed comfort

(in both aspects)

To wait for an apocalypse

x

We have now–

Heaven, in fact,

Might be waiting for us

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Hari Nandakumar on Unsplash

Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

x

0

Advent 2

(x = space)

x

x

Advent 2

x

Shall we light

Two lights from

One light

To move the meaning out

A little

To say this is a season, now

x

As the light is shared

So should we share

Our hopes

And dream

Intentions

For more light

Of our own making

For mercy

And a thoughtfulness

Toward love

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Carson Arias on Unsplash

x

0

Tragedy by Numbers

(x = space)

x

x

Tragedy by Numbers

x

A student killed

Two countries mourn

The suspect

Is exultant

Happy to have killed

Wounded one

More

Happy for Warhol’s

Fifteen minutes

Though we have to say

Allegedly

x

C L Couch

x

x

https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/ny-columbia-stabbing-victim-mourned-italy-20211203-fxqr7jn57jggxmtghq32xqdmne-story.html

x

Closeup of sequins on a sequin dress.

Photo by Joran Quinten on Unsplash

x

0

Love Speaks

(x = space)

x

x

Love Speaks

x

I don’t think I’m crazy

When I think about

Love speaking

Love speaking through

Moving water

Shakespeare’s gentle rain

Or more literally

Through the tap

x

Love speaks

Through wind

Yes, the angry kind

Also the zephyr when it’s gentle

Or through anyone’s

Exhalation

x

Love speaks through the ground

I don’t mean in earthquake

Though that’s true

As much as through the

Increments of growth

We cannot see

In roots below

And plants above

And with accompaniment

Of horses’ hooves

And deer

Or

Smaller critters

x

Love speaks

Through the seasons

Love speaks through you

I should listen

I really should listen

x

C L Couch

x

x

Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.

—Hamilton Wright Mabie

x

x

Photo by Christophe Maertens on Unsplash

x

4

The O in Omicron

(x = space)

x

x

The O in Omicron

x

Omicron

Is impressive

Like the o in omega,

I guess

Something surprising

Something final

The end is a beginning

First cases reported

How will we get sick?

How will our vaccines withstand?

The title shouldn’t be

A headline,

Something instead to tell us

It ain’t over

All of this

Be careful

And take care

Of each other

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Martin Sanchez on Unsplash

x

2

Four Candles

(x = space)

x

x

Four Candles

(Hanukkah)

x

Four candles

In the evening

Halfway through

The miracle,

Each moment’s

Marvel

x

Faith after

Occupying armies

Desecrated sacred space,

The focal point for

Freedom and

For worship

x

Manna

Or like water from a rock

The people had been given

Light when

Darkness by the rules

Should have returned

x

Praise the Lord

Who needs insufficient

Oil to light lamps,

Who can

Feed the hungry

Without what we count on

As real food,

Water by divining

(for being divine)

x

Who sponsors home

And time

And holy life

When and where there

Had been none for

So long, now all in safety

And in light

x

C L Couch

x

x

The Star of David with blossoms on a fruit tree in spring.

Photo by David Holifield on Unsplash

Waco, TX, USA

x

0

Merry Whichever

(x = space)

x

x

Merry Whichever

(greeting)

x

Merry Whichever

Happy New Year to your calendar

And all your months,

However they are named

May each day be ingested

With wisdom and

Delight,

Wisdom for the ages,

Delight in the pleasures

Of the day

x

May you know love

More than in the abstract

Some good learning beforehand

Wouldn’t hurt;

Might you have peace,

If the worlds great and small

Agree

x

Most of all, may

All of you

And any

Know the presence

Over us

So great,

So small as to be

Working inside

Our capillaries

x

Call it God

Or the Spirit

Or the impulse of the ages

The human push

Toward improvement

And a symphony of

Maybe out-of-tune,

Asynchronous

Possibility

x

May the one

Or many there

Protect you

And keep you

In each other

x

C L Couch

x

x

Part of the painting “my take on an ion.”

Photo by Jené Stephaniuk on Unsplash

Los Angeles, CA, USA

x

0

Ready or Not

(x = space)

x

x

Ready or Not

x

God is coming

God is here

God is a child

God is a teen

God is a grownup

God is a spirit

God is love

Everything at once

The Medievals didn’t mind

Neither should we

It is a time

Of amazement

Dare I say, magic

x

Each year God comes down

While angels rise

We look up

And on the Earth

Feel our investment firmer

x

Prophecy

And miracle

A merging of all tenses

Where

And when

God is involved

All things

Work for good

x

It is our age

Sick, healthy

Corrupt and even

We merge tenses, too,

Hoping for

Everything

To work out right

What’s left is

What there is

Illuminated by a star

The gift

The trash

The holes

The holes filled in

x

Whether or not

We are ready

For the light

It is an age of light

It was

It will be

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Krissana Porto on Unsplash

Paris, France

x

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