Gradient Light
It’s late
In that
The mid-autumn sun
Sets
Much earlier
Than summer’s
I rose late
Because there was
Strange peace
In the house
Perhaps
Perhaps
And inside
Me
While it is green and blue
Still
Lit by yellow
Yet I know
The coming darkness
That hints already
Shall
Arrive
It will be night
And with some stars
Perhaps
Or that bright
Waning moon
We’ve had
These past nights
A gift
Of supernal light
From
Evening
Crafters
And a surprise
For being
Large
In the sky
The
Brightness of the Lord
Even
In waning
C L Couch
Photo by Charles Postiaux on Unsplash
Help My Unbelief
(Mark 9)
Doubt
Has to be a part of it
It seems
Lack of faith
Or having faith broken
Apart
Or part of it
Sometimes
Then
There’s the always part
The soul that isn’t certain
Even though
A soul
Should mean something
Certain
And eternal
A spiritual
Life
And though
Several codes say
Simply
To believe
Or even might be burdened
A number of
Requirements
And though
Belief
Should be enough
To indicate
A life beyond
With confidence
There
Must be
It seems
Unbelief
A bother
And a burden
Rather
Though
Than getting in the way
Doubt might sharpen things
Like holy understanding
Like stage fright
Doubt might keep us fresh
Checking
And learning more
To keep
Our faith
Deep
And certainly alive
C L Couch
Photo by Steve Lieman on Unsplash
Like the Hammer at the Carnival
You know
In a pulmonary test
You are directed
To exhale then
Exhale some
More
Empty the lungs
As strongly
And as thoroughly
As you
Can
With then another round
And another of
The same
Not an exercise
In breathing
We should not breathe that way
But
It seems
To find out how strong we might be
And then again
Some guessing about strength
And then
Some
More
C L Couch
(with the thing at the carnival, you hit with all the strength you think you have and then must hit again with more)
Photo by Nhia Moua on Unsplash
Candled also Candied Hallowe’en
Not a gore-fest
Please
Which means that
Franchised
Fields of blood won’t be
For
Me
A busy
Corn-maze would be
Pleasant
If the allergies
Go
All right
And there’s my heart
That has handled
Much
Though now is broken
Medically
Still can appreciate
Orange and black
Purple
Highlights
Civil costumes
Not civil servants
So much as
Witches white
With
Courtesy
Casper ghosts
And such
And of course
Sugar
For diabetes
Notwithstanding
But let’s have some chocolate
Please
Some chocolate
If I can do
(w for m)
Samhain at all
In appreciation of tradition
Tilting with the axis
Respectfully
If
Quixotically at the
Time
Of year
Then maybe those
Better-knit
Or not
With whom I may celebrate
Or who
May celebrate with me
Going
If vicariously for
The chocolate
C L Couch
Photo by Heather Green on Unsplash
Monoprint Texture
an abstract pumpkin patch? (not really)
Ecumenically Yours
I believe
God
Jesus
And the Holy Spirit
If you don’t believe
Believing in
Another way
Or not
At all
Then that should be all right
With me
Evangelism
Notwithstanding
For
What good
Readiness to speak
When
There is no Earth to stand on or
Breathe through
Our lack of respect
Having led
To the destruction
Of
It all
C L Couch
Photo by Mario Häfliger on Unsplash
First time ever to see the monks temple Otagi Nenbutsuji in Kyoto. 1200 different monk statues are straggled over the area and sometimes you see once who are upside down or in remembrance of a cat. Hidden gem in my opinion.
[photographer’s caption]
Actual
(to youth)
What kind of world
Should we leave you
Not the world we’re leaving you
Some say to move back in time
To former greatness
Such greatness not existing
Not in hindsight’s
Either
And
Anyway
Who has a time
Machine
Because the river has moved on
And we can’t wade
In the water
That was
I think the world as is
Is what you’ll get
And everyone in charge now
And everyone who’s silent over it
Should
Apologize
Even
Try to get as many things right
Before it’s fully yours
Though in part
Already
Naturally
It’s yours
If we can do this
Make a few things better
Not by war
Not by pollution
Desecration
Death of character
If we can change things
In a peaceful
And productive
Way
Even a loving way
The real way of love
The strong way
Well
That would be something
Not nearly enough
For letting things get this bad
Already
But something
Something of a better place
To leave you
C L Couch
Photo by Lil Mayer on Unsplash
"What are we going to do with all this future?" [for translation programs]
We Do This
I’m not really satisfied
Are you
I mean
I sit here
In an illusion of
Muscles
And health
And time and safety
To do this
And you are where you are
By
All that you have
And we express
Or try to
We make many drafts
Call them rough
Then save
Them for another time
Or we
Discard
And it’s not only writing
But
A wish for peace
Beyond the writing
Yes
Success
Even a wishing
Or a dreaming
Of prosperity
With support
The encouragement
Of others
We respect
Even
Who give over all the time
And space
For us
Or we keep writing
Anyway
(regardless)
We keep saying
We keep corresponding
And so
Change the world
While
No one else is watching
C L Couch
Photo by Lindsey Elsey on Unsplash
275
we can be
brief
without sound-bites
that are extreme
the other way
while
of course
beyond verbosity
we can punch with words
we can overwhelm instead
or more
with
reason
and with courage
they need such words in
western Carolina
Florida
in western Asis
too
and all the places
that need healing
still
they need work
we know
more than
words
though words will
give the order
as well as
keep us going
how about
few words with
power inside
with which
words invoke power
to work
to expend our better energies
say
we love you
and we’ll help you
meaning
significance
and practicality
and
we’re coming
and we’re there
with
more than wishes
alone
rather with agendas for
health
and maybe peace
upon the land
and in our
minds
and in our
hearts
and in our
souls
too much of you
has perished
lost
too much
and with few words
we’re on our way
with actions
and resources
in hope of nature’s and our own
cessation
of destruction
at least
long enough to heal
and
with God’s help
perhaps
to remain whole
on these parts
our people
of Earth
c l couch
photo by MJ Tangonan on Unsplash
Chimney Rock, North Carolina
(my family tells me Chimney Rock the town’s no longer there)
baruch
Yom Kippur
that I don’t fully understand
but that is happening
now
sunset Friday
to nightfall
Saturday
(which is today)
and this year
no doubt
there will be praying for the closeness
of God
upon the hostages
held by Hamas
and not by the Palestinian people
generally
the day is for repentance
to ask forgiveness of
the Lord
so that we might be restored
and reconciled
but something I’ve been told is that
the day before
Erev Yom Kippur
is a day for asking forgiveness
of each other
we forgive each other
and then
we may ask forgiveness of God
ten days for repentance
actually
between Rosh Hashanah and
now
the Christian doctrinal story
is about
leaving one’s gift before the altar
to go
make up with one’s sibling
(should
there be conflict)
and thus being
truly
prepared
even according to priorities
to go to
present at the altar
to have time
with the Lord
and be open to fullest forgiveness
forgive each other first
then ask
forgiveness of God
I think that’s how the teaching goes
in two traditions
maybe more
I don’t
know
I could be wrong
of course
But might God bless
the devout
on Yom Kippur
and
direct us all toward
reconciliation
c l couch
photo by Jeanne Rouillard on Unsplash
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