ev’ry time
the Spirit of God moved
and there was
water
then a world
and God lives in each one
of
us
as we allow
fearful
creator God
yet also living inside
in
intimacy
which is the part of God
that should amaze
and
does sometimes in songs and
testimony
many and great
O God
are thy works
as
in the hand
that
planetwide presses out plains and
valleys with mountain ranges
rising
between fingers
and yet
God indwells
all
who want
and closely forever
which must be one of those
many
and great works
and is
c l couch
“Many and Great” is a hymn based on Dakota tribal understanding and language
the title is taken from the hymn “Ev’ry Time I Feel the Spirit”
photograph by Nick Moore at Unsplash
simplicity itself
something
short and simple
if not sweet
for
God is long and complex
but likes short and simple
too
I’m thinking
I love you
I made you
I made you out of love
and now for love
fallen
as the Calvinists propound
and sorry that
that happened though
not sorry
for the will in your
and so
love struggles
not in me
though I mourn
and
yes
and anger in perfection
that is mine
still hoping for love
each time
on Earth
as is
and as we might be waiting
all of us
‘til time
c l couch
photo by Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash
unforgiven
like a gift
a benediction to give
and to receive
forgiveness goes this way
if much more
difficult
for if there’s unforgiveness
then
it isn’t given and it cannot be received
and both parts persist
in something wrong
won’t be fixed
until the math is broken
the straight line of hate or
scorn
leading to aggressive or indifferent
lines
as postures
offer forgiveness
then
accept it so that two people
or two tribes
might live in
the delightful curves of Earth
and in
a new math with each
other
fit with new equations
c l couch
photo by Frida Lannerström on Unsplash
the old anthem I can’t find
(but used to sing)
an old anthem
leads from Ecclesiastes
into James
a strange splicing
though it indicates progression
beginning with a celebration
and a caution
for youth to find joy
in being
youth
and also concern
since
one day there is judgment
James
then goes further
asking youth or anyone
really
to consider
the wrong aspects of desire
when we ask
we ask awry and even
kill
thinking to satisfy our wants
yet
there is the claim of the perfect law of liberty
that
whoever lives into this law
shall be blessed
and this law
what shall we say
what it
might be
if more context is required
the commandments
then
those
that Jesus cites
above all
and so a good place to begin
not only a life of faith
but that is satisfied
for through
these we know how to ask
aright and even get what we really
want
since
wanting is fine and it’s the twisting of want
that ruins it and
everything around it
I wish I could find that song
I used to sing it when a youth
and
as an anthem
it was loud
harmonious
and
true
c l couch
Ecclesiastes 11:9
James 1:25
James 2:4
(KJV)
Matthew 22:36-40
photo by Md Mahdi on Unsplash
This Day God
God
What do you think
I should say today
If anything
To share
For
We know that you are love
But we aren’t love
And you won’t fix us
Obviously
And we could follow you
By serving each other
Though
The world would only hurt us
Take from us
And should we all be ready
To lose that much
And
Maybe so
Yet
Sigh
I am weak
And unconnected
So what could I do to make
Things better
But
Maybe
On occasion to remind us that
You are
In truth love
And
Direct of us to be and
Do the same
C L Couch
Joshua 24:15
Photo by Magnus Östberg on Unsplash
[3 haiku about (coastal) land and water]
dawn in its first hour
gray hour at the ocean sings
gulls cry food for praise
knowing god looks out
from shore with the church folk there
looks back too through waves
gold rise red to blue
east coast sun sets into land
western sun in sea
c l couch
(3 haiku about (coastal) land and water, in part because I haven’t been to the ocean in a while; I mean for each poem to stand as each, though they are tied as well)
photo by René Molenkamp on Unsplash
(real) wrongway satisfaction
empty
how to be filled again
pearls cast
wise as doves
gentle as
serpents
which works the opposite
of the truism
though maybe doves have wisdom
and serpents may
have
wisdom
and things work upside-
down
or in and out of time
the way the faithful claim that
foolishness is wisdom
the backward
take
look another way
from the world into eternity
c l couch
1 Corinthians 1:21
photo by Fredrik Öhlander on Unsplash
graves say
(because they do)
hear them
while
we look at them and
hear
a message
as
we might wonder if they like the rows
or would they rather follow
contours
helter-skelter
around
trees
or as combined
through dells and over knolls
and gently curved
plus
with a wish for wildness
yet
they say at any time
so then
maybe we hear
and for certain days
articulate
a familied story from one loved or
waving narratives from
all the stones
c l couch
for Memorial Day
photo by Gabe Pierce on Unsplash
In the USA, Memorial Day is the last Monday in May (so this year 26); the day is a formal time for remembrance, mourning, and gratitude.
something stronger
tea
as
or something stronger
through stronger
is
what the refreshment
means
in that we sit
like rest
and how are you
today
and I hope
well
though if not then
not
and I’d like to meet you
anyway
of course
and if we could have tea
in a room by
Beatrice
or
by Bilbo
I’d so much like to hear
your story
up to now and then
a little
speculation toward
the future
yours
and with a taste of the last
lukewarm sip
might stand
a guess
toward
the future of us both
and by extension
all
though it’s our time
as is this
time
with minutes only for
each other
and
I shall hear you better than
the rest that is
the ministry
of tea or something like
and
listening
for which there’s nothing
like
c l couch
photo by Colin Roe on Unsplash
clcouch123 
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