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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.

After a Few Days Away

After a Few Days Away

 

I drive through

A steam-filled

World

 

At home, more

News of dying

 

Both by design

And unassigned

 

I gather in

Headlines and

Their stories

 

While struggling

To breathe hot

Wet solid air

 

Searching for

Hope-openings

Through which

To inhale

6

Refuge

Refuge

(listening to public radio)

 

A man is interviewed

Via translation

 

I lost my daughter in

The explosion

 

Here is a picture of her

There are two;

 

She was twin to the

Daughter I still have

 

Paper riffles, passing

The photograph back

And forth

 

Her mother is gone, too

 

He does not say his

Wife

 

I wonder if he says

 

“Mother” instead,

Because this is

 

The relationship that

Must matter now

 

The mother of his

Living daughter died,

 

And he must see to

That for her

 

Or is it that he cannot

Bring himself to say

Again, my wife

5

Aleppo, Pennsylvania

Aleppo, Pennsylvania

 

Neighborhood is

Near three rivers

 

Reminding us that

Syria, native or

Immigrant (like the

Rest of ours), has

 

Been America for

A long, long time

3

Kaibigan

Kaibigan

(Filipino friends)

 

Don’t know much about a mystery

Don’t know much etymology

Don’t know much about a language book

Don’t know much about Linguistics took

 

But I do know that you’re both dear

And the gift of words you brought us here

How much better the world is to me

 

How much better you make the world,

You see

 

(inspired by “What a Wonderful World,”

released by Sam Cooke in 1960

 

inspired by Rosema at rosemawrites,

Maria at Doodles and Scribbles

for giving us “Word-High July”—see below)

 

Word-High July: Welcome!

 

Maria of Doodles and Scribbles and I [that’s Rosema at rosemawrites] are more than excited to read your takes on the 30 Beautiful Filipino Words.

  1. Write or create a post inspired or about the Filipino word prompts.
  2. A post can be anything. A poem, a fiction, a six-word tale, or even a photo. It’s all up to you.
  3. Linkback/create a pingback to this post: Word-High July 30 Beautiful Filipino Words. Here is a quick tutorial on how to do a pingback.
  4. Tag your post with WordHighJuly, so your co-bloggers will be able to read/see your take on the prompt. Here’s how you create tags.
  5. Most important of all, read and comment to your blogger friends (old and new found, we’ll never know).

 

HOP ON and let’s all GET WORD-HIGH this JULY!

wrestlingroots.org

4

Tadhana

Tadhana

 

I tip the cups

Of the libation bearers

 

I take the coins

Meant for passage

With Charon

 

I trick Raven itself

Out of a feather

 

The dragon soars

But cannot find me

 

I hide behind

The rising sun

 

All the gods offended

 

Until I encounter

You

 

Who will

Not suffer fools

 

And will withhold

Amazing

Gems only for the

Wise

 

Who will not

Count me

 

Outcast

I weep

 

Wishing

Ananzi might

Forgive and

Wrap me

In

 

A silver thread

 

A place from

Which to

Repent

 

And relate anew

With divinity

 

Word-High July: Welcome!

 

Maria of Doodles and Scribbles and I [that’s Rosema at rosemawrites] are more than excited to read your takes on the 30 Beautiful Filipino Words.

  1. Write or create a post inspired or about the Filipino word prompts.
  2. A post can be anything. A poem, a fiction, a six-word tale, or even a photo. It’s all up to you.
  3. Linkback/create a pingback to this post: Word-High July 30 Beautiful Filipino Words. Here is a quick tutorial on how to do a pingback.
  4. Tag your post with WordHighJuly, so your co-bloggers will be able to read/see your take on the prompt. Here’s how you create tags.
  5. Most important of all, read and comment to your blogger friends (old and new found, we’ll never know).

 

HOP ON and let’s all GET WORD-HIGH this JULY!

4

My Gigil

My Gigil

 

Stay away

This isn’t funny

 

I meant it now

You stay away

 

Ha, ha

Are you enjoying this

I think you

 

Are gigil

A Philippine lothario’s

(Lothatia’s)

Apprentice

 

Mentor

To

Trickster personae

 

Leave off

Let go

This won’t get me

 

To love you

I

Will feel less

 

And once

You let go

I will hit you back

For squeezing

 

Pinching

Tickling my sides and

Under my chin

 

What creature

Told you that

Was where

 

This was how

To goad me best

 

Your gigil won’t take me

In or you

Very far

 

So set me down

 

I am a scaredy

A ‘fraidy

Well

You know

 

Pusa

Sometimes still

Muning

 

 

Word-High July: Welcome!

 

Maria of Doodles and Scribbles and I [that’s Rosema at rosemawrites] are more than excited to read your takes on the 30 Beautiful Filipino Words.

  1. Write or create a post inspired or about the Filipino word prompts.
  2. A post can be anything. A poem, a fiction, a six-word tale, or even a photo. It’s all up to you.
  3. Linkback/create a pingback to this post: Word-High July 30 Beautiful Filipino Words. Here is a quick tutorial on how to do a pingback.
  4. Tag your post with WordHighJuly, so your co-bloggers will be able to read/see your take on the prompt. Here’s how you create tags.
  5. Most important of all, read and comment to your blogger friends (old and new found, we’ll never know).

 

HOP ON and let’s all GET WORD-HIGH this JULY!

(www.smiley.com)

6

Halakhak

Halakhak

 

Onomatopoeia

In Filipino

 

If I can manage

To pronounce

 

Quickly and many

Times

 

Then I think I

Might accomplish

 

Halakhak

 

Boisterous and

Outgoing laughter

Rhythmic in

Exhalation

 

Say it with me

Laugh with me

 

Word-High July: Welcome!

 

Maria of Doodles and Scribbles and I [that’s Rosema at rosemawrites] are more than excited to read your takes on the 30 Beautiful Filipino Words.

  1. Write or create a post inspired or about the Filipino word prompts.
  2. A post can be anything. A poem, a fiction, a six-word tale, or even a photo. It’s all up to you.
  3. Linkback/create a pingback to this post: Word-High July 30 Beautiful Filipino Words. Here is a quick tutorial on how to do a pingback.
  4. Tag your post with WordHighJuly, so your co-bloggers will be able to read/see your take on the prompt. Here’s how you create tags.
  5. Most important of all, read and comment to your blogger friends (old and new found, we’ll never know).

 

HOP ON and let’s all GET WORD-HIGH this JULY!

6

Yugto

Yugto

(word that carries)

 

Meanwhile

Once upon a time

In another part of

The realm

 

Story transition to

Keep it whole

 

In a castle far away

Half-way up the

Wizard’s tower

 

Gazing out upon

A quiet land

 

Silent for now

 

I see my story

Turning pages with

A hope that you

Will follow

 

Through connective

Words like tissues

Binding joints

And muscles

 

Taking us from

Each one of them

To each

 

Into exotic action

And a parable

 

Something for life

When the reading’s

Done

 

Word-High July: Welcome!

 

Maria of Doodles and Scribbles and I [that’s Rosema at rosemawrites] are more than excited to read your takes on the 30 Beautiful Filipino Words.

  1. Write or create a post inspired or about the Filipino word prompts.
  2. A post can be anything. A poem, a fiction, a six-word tale, or even a photo. It’s all up to you.
  3. Linkback/create a pingback to this post: Word-High July 30 Beautiful Filipino Words. Here is a quick tutorial on how to do a pingback.
  4. Tag your post with WordHighJuly, so your co-bloggers will be able to read/see your take on the prompt. Here’s how you create tags.
  5. Most important of all, read and comment to your blogger friends (old and new found, we’ll never know).

 

HOP ON and let’s all GET WORD-HIGH this JULY!

6

Pahimakas

Pahimakas

 

We’re near the end

Though not there, so

This word doesn’t

Have to bring a tear

Today

 

Though tears are

Healthy, maybe we

Can save ours for a

Little while and

Say instead

 

Au revoir (when it’s

Time), A bientot

 

Ciao, bella (bello)

 

Hasta luego, hasta

Pronto

 

See you again (and)

See you soon

 

Good-bye for now

 

“We’ll meet again,

Don’t know where,

Don’t know when”

 

In the sky or on the

Earth or over water

 

Pahimakas, friends

Pakimakas, family

 

Where it matters

Always there

 

 

“We’ll Meet Again” by Ross Parker, Hughie Charles

first released in 1939

 

Word-High July: Welcome!

 

Maria of Doodles and Scribbles and I [that’s Rosema at rosemawrites] are more than excited to read your takes on the 30 Beautiful Filipino Words.

  1. Write or create a post inspired or about the Filipino word prompts.
  2. A post can be anything. A poem, a fiction, a six-word tale, or even a photo. It’s all up to you.
  3. Linkback/create a pingback to this post: Word-High July 30 Beautiful Filipino Words. Here is a quick tutorial on how to do a pingback.
  4. Tag your post with WordHighJuly, so your co-bloggers will be able to read/see your take on the prompt. Here’s how you create tags.
  5. Most important of all, read and comment to your blogger friends (old and new found, we’ll never know).

 

HOP ON and let’s all GET WORD-HIGH this JULY!

5

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