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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.

Peace, Prevail

Peace, Prevail

(for the USA and all)

 

Red leaves on trees

Against the season’s

Bright blue sky,

Branches lightened in

Late-afternoon, autumn

Sun

 

Vision of nature

Hope for a nation

 

C L Couch

2

Let’s Look for a Reason

Let’s Look for a Reason

(commending her candidacy)

 

So

She’s flighty as we

Think women are—

No, that’s not right

 

She’s not serious-minded—

No, again not right

 

How about

She doesn’t convey authority

As our commander should—

Nope, can’t make that

Argument, either

 

But she does write e-mails,

Good!—there’s reason

For the pillory

 

Those things we usually

Use to keep them

Down just weren’t working

Out this time

 

Because she is a person

For all seasons?

 

No, she’s still a woman—

Can’t have that

 

C L Couch

 

My favorite thing is not to think or write in a partisan way.  I’m registered to vote though not a member of any political party (though I’ve always favored the New Year’s Eve, should it be formed, and think the Pirates Party in Iceland holds promise).  I do believe that the final prejudice to overcome in the current election for President will be in fact the problem over gender.  Hence this verse about that.

1

For All Souls

For All Souls

(2 November)

 

Rosemary for remembrance

But it will be in Spain and Mexico

USA and other places, as

 

Candy shaped into skulls,

Bright-color picnics set out at night

With our dead—and many

Kindred flames of candlelight

 

Yesterday the living church

 

Today the predeceased who will

Stay a little closer

 

Families gather ‘round the stones

De abuelos, tíos, quizás los niños

 

All whose loss is lessened for a

Time as an altogether family

For the feast

 

C L Couch

6

Imagine

Imagine

 

I heard the song last night

And now read the story in the morning:

 

Forty percent of vertebrates gone

From planet Earth,

Sixty-six (the number of books

In the Protestant Bible) by

The middle of our new century

 

Why do these die?

In part, because they do

 

And in part because we kill them

 

There are two ways to feel convicted,

Each way requiring a life

 

Will we let our world live?  Will

We let our charges thrive

Or maybe better yet

Simply leave them be?

 

We have pushed living

Over the cusp of extinction

 

Pulling back destructive practices

Under the edge again

 

Might hurt

 

But it’s pain we’ve earned,

The cost of killing kingdoms

And the genus

 

Try feeding creature kinds

More like kindred we respect;

Tend if only for a while

 

Then we might inspire

Conclusions for a future

Place

And process

 

C L Couch

 

“Imagine a world without animals. You’ll soon see how much we need them”

Jules Howard

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/31/world-without-animals-pollinating-crops?utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=GU+Today+USA+-+morning+briefing+2016&utm_term=197334&subid=16706344&CMP=ema_a-morning-briefing_b-morning-briefing_c-US_d-1

5

Mid-Atlantic States’ Autumn Afternoon

Mid-Atlantic States’ Autumn Afternoon

 

Soon it’s three o’clock:

 

My favorite hour at this time

of year,

 

when daylight starts further

to fall, because it’s set to do so

 

When stark-yellow transports

will go by

 

smooth and grumbly under

 

billow-clouds with cotton faces

deepening

 

They say, laughing while we

run for porches that have

ceilings,

 

Enjoy this grey day

 

Its lack of definition presses

romance through everything

beneath

 

an amber sun

5

Bread Alone

Bread Alone

 

A crumb set on a windowsill by a wayward mouse

Seen through the dust, returning to grab up

The part of grain

 

Clever mouse

Hungry mouse

Field mouse—headed back where it belongs

 

Leave it alone

It’s an old house

We might need an ally

You want to be in the right place, too

 

C L Couch

2

Next Thursday

Next Thursday

(for my friend)

 

How are you?  What’s

up?  I have an operation

to excise a tumor:

is that normal

talk in our coffee shop?

 

Do you mind?  I can’t

feel it, but it bothers me

a lot—I think I can

 

manage until then, though

it gets hard, you know?

You don’t?

 

You’ve never had this

in the flesh?  You’ve never

Felt the fear?  I could

Wish I were you!

 

Have to go?  I understand:

no, I’ll stay here for

a while, have

another cuppa.

 

I like today’s blend;

it smells, well, it smells

like oily health.

 

Yum.  See you.  See

You tonight?  Well,

if you can make

it.  If not, well, I guess

I’ll understand.

 

C L Couch

11

Today’s Pain

Today’s Pain

 

My eyes hurt.  Parts

are swimming.

Parts are dry.  Maybe

with more sleep.

Sigh.

 

C L Couch

7

Morning Dark

Morning Dark

 

morning dark

it’s longer now

and night arrives

earlier—the

longer time for

black sky to have

its way

 

and in equinox-

thinking, this is

just

 

for we should not

fear the dark,

since there is

dreaming there

 

C L Couch

6

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