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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.

Psalm 49 (a penultimate song)

Psalm 49

(a penultimate song)

 

Before the last,

One more thing,

Please, to say:

 

O Lord, like all

The seasons that

You muster,

 

You are constant

In provision;

 

Might we live in

Gratitude,

 

Thirsty children

Who can yet look

Up before

 

We stoop, saving,

To drink—

 

Risking, yes, a

Moment of hurt

Brilliance

 

Gazing, as we

Do, toward the

Direction of one

Who has

 

Left life for us

 

In a healing cup,

Freely filled with

Consequence,

 

And bread that

Was earth-fired,

Once

5

Psalm 48

Psalm 48

God Breaks Through

 

The day comes

When God breaks

Through

 

When an open hand

Will not be

 

Withheld by grace

Or by design

 

We cannot bring

It down—release

Or entice it

 

Our timing has no

Meaning here

 

We should leave

It all alone

 

A mind ordains, a

Host obeys

 

The earth will be

Complete

 

Ready to be

Apprehended in

 

Capture and in

Understanding

 

Day time and

Night time

Without time

17

haiku about death and life

haiku about death and life

 

Dying is helpless

The skies open, nature weeps

Hopeless in mourning

 

Prize in awaking

Who knew how to feel about

Death, an opening

3

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

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