To a New Friend
You asked me
how I am,
and I didn’t tell you.
I didn’t know
how to be succinct
or how much you’d like to know,
though I have no reason to
doubt your sincerity
in asking
except I haven’t been that well:
I’ve been tired and rather ill.
And the doctors mention,
if only to mention,
the timeline for a transplant
and that I’m not getting any younger,
as we say.
And I’m concerned:
I worry
while living through the day,
awake at night,
half-awake the next day.
Maybe you have insight;
or maybe I would simply like—who
am I kidding—cherish
your responses that so far have been
both sympathetic
and intelligent
as an impressive combination,
though there won’t be anything unless
I say something.
C L Couch
Photo by Mel Poole on Unsplash
the aftering
I know other things
have happened
in what for us was nighttime
under the glare of sunlight
over there
or
yes
under cover here
save for stars and moon
new things
and then
as well
perpetuation of the old
ongoing
without ceasing
all the bad things
overwhelming
so it seems
when will it end
and what shape
is the terminus
will we know it
when we get there
there
a block for worry while
we bury devastation
and then
what happens
next
to stay
and who has the energy
remaining
to rebuild
and what about the funds
required
and sustenance to keep us going
in the meantime
and meanwhile
and plus
should anything resurge
disease
or battle
or the fire
and typically
tragically
the quake
what shall the aftereffects
do to us
the trauma now
impeding
any hope of progress
of ongoing life
that is
leaping over crises
and catastrophes
to resume
and now
resume again
heaven help us
and we might ask about
the first
time
where were you
and
yes
we must say
we’ll even plead
come here now
some sort of
Immanuel
c l couch
photo by Museums Victoria on Unsplash
Gall
Oh
I feel bitter
And there is no sense in it
Because
There is no end
But more
And gall
Who wants
To drink that
Anyway
Drink fit for a cross
It seems
And only when a savior
Suffers there
Who can’t be receiving
Anything approvable
Anything
With savor
Lest
It’s awful
And I can’t
Go that far
You know I can’t
Because there’s only one
Who could
And that is done
And there is
Triumph now
And it’s not
The bitter kind
But is for friendship
From a god
To the rest of us
Done
For companionship
In fact
So heaven won’t be lonely
Anymore
And so where is gall
It isn’t mine
Even though the world
Tries to recreate
The vintage
From blood violently spilled
And from
More corruption
And yet
It stands there
Wasted
On the ground
No need for the symbol
Except to be reminded
(that can be done
with two dimensions
only)
Anymore
C L Couch
Photo by James Garman on Unsplash
the promises
I will not die
and in faith
not have that the ending
I guess that’s the biggest one
promise
of promises
there are others
more earthbound
the oaths
we take as families
and citizens
before the flag in school
the vows
that in infant baptism
the parents with the church say for us
and we break these
even with guns sometimes
to emphasize
the bloodiness
in going rogue
against what had been promised first
thank goodness for
that first one and
we need it
a promise of a heaven
when the world has failed us
as it is bound to
and what we resort
to but remembrance of
that first thing
that was its claim
that became its oath
it’s good
the one from the beginning
slipped inside our code to be opened
at the last
I’m not sure there’s more to say
hang on
when it’s impossible
to change
yet work at change
there’s a promise in working today
that’s not so bad
for we are
loved from here into the next
c l couch
photo by Prashant on Unsplash
the reason for the prophets
(and the poets)
yes
and how crazed
am I
isn’t
that something
beautiful
and practical
might be done
in pottery
an
effect designed
before the
fire makes
it hot
and changes it
to beauty
practicality
as both
might be
desired
then designed
intentions
can be good
as are my wishes
wants
efforts
for you
and keep the prophets
fed
by ravens bringing bread
and in the wilderness
internal
where the song is written
then is raised
for an inauguration
to the Lord
then maybe
others
take the song
to raise
back in the city
in the forest
on the farm
over the ocean
all the oceans
between
planets
all the worlds
we are
and even those we cannot
see
or hear
or smell
or taste
or touch
or take up time
and matter
and un-matter
in the choosing
in the personhood
of God
and maybe us
when we are in tandem
by example
when the prophet shall
come back
from
the wilderness
unto
the courts
of the world
c l couch
photo by Cole Keister on Unsplash
the Keep
God keep you
though in this world
I’m uncertain
on my way toward
doubting
what that means
God keep you
from harm
but we know
that doesn’t work
don’t we
God keep you
in a job
and house
and with security enough
to have these
without fear
God keep you
in peace
throughout your country
in such days
and in such days
we must not believe
keep such naivety
these days
and
sigh
so what does keep
what do I want
for you
in that
that God should keep you
anyway
in faith
and with peace that certainty
must pass understanding
the way
things are
and that
your choice
shall keep you
in the half-sphere of faith
that empties into heaven
all the time
where the other half
dispenses joy
that doesn’t lose a moment
in bathing you
somehow from inside out
with that
and peace eternal
peace internal
and so together
a new world
and with companionship
that cannot
be torn from war
against you
or anything
(that Bible promise)
from the Lord
c l couch
Numbers 6:24-26
photo by Vonecia Carswell on Unsplash
saving simplicity
believe in God
that’s all
maybe reminded
that
God is love
as well as judgment
and it seems
would rather love
us
than judge
us
read the verse
after
3:16
for God’s rather
what God
would rather do
and that
together these
verses shall say
the reason
for salvation
is not lack of fallacy
or even
fullness
in fortitude
but because there’s love
in
foreground
and in
background
and on which our lives
are painted in
between
love
and faith in love
from the Lord
that are
the Lord
in all the parts
and all of them
unfailing
and shall we love
and believe
from the same capacities
of creator
in
creation
simply
that’s ours to choose
war or peace
attack or
rescue
like the one
who from our perspective
must allow
our choosing
from
either course
weighed out of love
and faith
that’s all
c l couch
photo by Corey Hearne on Unsplash
“delicate decision”
(https://leafandtwig.org/2024/04/14/delicate-decisions/)
to decide between
winter or spring
and
it must be spring
but what if
the decision goes the other way
what if
spring’s not ready
and winter coldness
might feel grand
a little longer
given quarters of the Earth
already turned
and hot
or maybe to rest a while longer
in the freeze
in caves
in trees
and beneath the ground
letting seeds build up
their inner strength
to shoot
and rise
through the crusts of soil
to find in time
the nurture
of the sky
so let the new
be moved on a little
maybe a month or so
a scandal to our calendars
though the big negotiations
shall go
between
the tilt of Earth
and the truculence
of nature here
that wants to wait
a while
c l couch
this verse, undulating for good or ill in form and content, is inspired by the post on 14 April 2024 of the excellent blog by Catherine Arcolio—“Leaf and Twig” that presents evocative photographs and text, both as expressions and comments about nature (thank you, Catherine)
photo by Jodie Righos on Unsplash
Nature for Liturgy
This is your day
God
But then
So was yesterday
A litany to you
Could have been
Between the sunset
And moon
Rising
Or even closer
The response
Of branch
To wind
We could guess
The words are everywhere
And should we know
The language
We could antiphon
With
Nature
Find the circles
And to join
Them
In
Nature’s lack of need
To worship
But providing perfect places
For it
All the same
An invitation
All the same
From
The world that
We have
Gradually
Used up
Irony
And gratitude
Shall we apply
In moving
Aside
(inside
or outside)
To be
Here
In splendid
Airy
Easy
(save for awe
mountain peaks
or seeming
depthless
oceans)
Company
In unaware companionship
But offering
The same
Anyway
For our hours
In irony
And gratitude
C L Couch
Photo by Chuck Eugene on Unsplash
clcouch123 
Recent Comments