youngling
it is a young nation
though already acts tired
not
that the athletics aren’t impressive
less
investment in demagoguery
which might seem
energetic
though in reality
has an enervating effect
don’t we want
to be
this nation anymore
all
the sacrifice
for good and for ill
pushing natives west
and killing them
with ease
and by the way
once they saved our lives
and then
enslavement
easy
and if not easy certainly
ongoing
buying and selling of people
and then the privilege
to treat the purchase
miserably
against a definition of humanity
still
we had good ideas
some that some said made common sense
ancient of days
and new
ideals of democracy
and a belief in representation
though
governing of ourselves
we
could believe in balance
so much land
to destroy
so much to preserve
and so parameter
everyone
we can’t say we’re a good nation
not with evils and temptations following
we can’t go back
do not think that though maybe
forward
to new basics
we have a chance
we have improved
in fact
there is much that’s likable
and
on the board are all those good principles
that nobility could not afford
but
without that
we can
today
and toward
the present that we have
with old and new belief
in the future of us
all
c l couch
photo by Wolfgang Hasselmann on Unsplash
maple rebellion
Canada
that won its nationhood
via
a “silent revolution”
has problems
too
with assets
as all nations know these for
ourselves
also such beauty
in
nature used
better preserved
with so many groups
first people
with
the rest
following by settlement
enormous
a gateway to so much
exploring
and
developing
with great strength
in hope
and might show a peaceful way
someday
to match the beginning
of itself
for itself and
a model
then for all
O for invocation
the spirit
in
first people
in all the provinces
all people
and so
we stand on guard for thee
Canada
its own
and
friend and ally
c l couch
on Canada Day
photo by Sergey Pesterev on Unsplash
more or less a cycle about the summer heat (and never satisfied)
ashen
rain would be nice
and cooler weather
or
rain and keep it
tropical
for compromise
we need rain
I need rain
I keep on asking
don’t I
sorry to be a pest
but it’s the dust outside
from jackhammering
and
cigarettes
all by the workers
whom I don’t want
to begrudge
anything
having work
getting paid
sponsoring their lives
it’s the detritus
I suppose
what is left over
that I’m breathing
after the job
lean in
lean into it
some things work like
that
work better
with the angle and assertion
but for some
things
such as fast sailing
lean away
and go no other
angles matter
a direction sometimes
matters
oh how happy we’ll be
to breathe in ocean air
something
about
the chemicals reacting
I am sure
but
it feels good
regardless
of the science or
religion
not
to say don’t believe
in either
frankly
but
to relish in inhaling God has
given
and we dissect
if it’s only air
By the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea
You and I, you and I, oh how happy we'll be
hot
how does it go
it’s too darn hot
not
in the desert
mind you
though it is a dry heat
I hear
and have
experienced
funny
how one thinks
the desert is just fine
when
there are things
of course
it will do to me
and
you
if we’re not careful
and that depends
on how much intrusion
humans
have made with stores
and
gasoline
cold water
and snacks
meaning
thank goodness for
Seven-Eleven
where
it’s hot
sing
too darn hot
song by Cole Porter
when we wish
yes
it could rain
and then rain
and then there be a flood
with
the demon sidling
what do you
want
you’re never satisfied
the irony
of
what we need
and
dare we ask a genie
one of the djinn
as a trickster
or might we trust
better angels
and overall
divinity
to presume on our behalf
discretion
and
parameters
in other words
rain
please
enough rain
please
c l couch
photo by Anna Goncharova on Unsplash
it could rain
and why not so that
after
we might breathe better
the dust from the work on the street
tamped
down some if even washed away
the heatwave crash a little on
the shore
of our discomfort
though another wave
sigh
should form out there
so it’s a simple
prayer
help and amen
c l couch
photo by MARIOLA GROBELSKA on Unsplash
first full days
the day
twenty-four
and slightly less the light
from
day before
new season in transition
to the next
already
as our placement of the calendar
has set
and should we move
the season’s
markings as was done
still is
else-where
or when
so that midsummer
say
is the middle of the summer
and
so around
coda
the wars
certainly are
the vastly greater issue
with
especially cessation
come to mind
and
maybe
to the table
and there’s the warming of the Earth
that’s down to us
regardless
how we count
better to have seasons
in
whatever way
that are
redemptive by our ownership
cooler
how about all and
everyone
by our strategies
and practices
c l couch
from the solstice
photo by Simon Berger on Unsplash
soul power
let us break bread and
drink
wine together
breaking hate for whatever
reason
we saw justified
wine as blood
to know that blood is poured
and
has been poured
and except
by the one must be
bled no
longer for the rest
to say today
and
how
shall we rejoin
(or if
rejoin)
tomorrow
if
we could
remember on our
knees
in faith
to the one
and then in service
also
to each other
then
that we study war no more
but
let peace prevail and
a feast
by love
by love
tempered by wisdom as
mercy tempers
justice
unafraid
overcome
if afraid
still overcome
c l couch
for Juneteenth
photo by Ian Kiragu on Unsplash
gray day haiku
I don’t know if when
days don’t come so featureless
I touch relief of sun
gray day without arcs
no cloud-lines with interest
could wake to bright day
our moods by weather
we can do better by this
don’t be ruled by sky
there are sky-signals
sometimes land and water cast
warning signs to us
c l couch
photo by Tolga Ahmetler on Unsplash
you, the season, and the Bible (3 poems)
the Tuesday verse
it’s Tuesday
how
are you
well
I hope
and
if not on your way toward
becoming well
and more
I don’t know what kind
of day you’ll have
today
maybe one of actual prosperity
or
to refine only
hope for
more
maybe there will be peace
this day
though there might be conflict
just
as well
the world as it is
we know
here it happens to be
raining and it’s
cooler
it might be raining where you are
as well
as
it falls near
everyone
even in the desert now
and
then
a happy Tuesday to you
and we try to raise our thoughts
toward
a Wednesday with
an even
better view
maybe weather
notwithstanding
or
altering
the longest day
the solstice is approaching
Midsummer
or
Saint John’s
and then the days grow shorter
though it’s
summer
and we think if in irony of longer
days
relish
in fact
the light of day that lingers as a cue
for picnics and vacations
or
simply to take in
because of the gradients of
blue
and then
the stars appear to dance
to twinkle through the atmosphere
at least
in the summer hours we have
which
will grow longer for them
maybe in the dark of only this time
of year
we’ll also think of kick-the-can and
capture-the-
flag
time and talent
Jesus wept
the reputed shortest verse
though
it’s a matter of numbering and syntax
of translators
and
then getting by the editors in
the inspired process
and maybe new translations
paraphrases
challenge other parts for that epithet
say
to write in Genesis
God made
or maybe to try
only
God
c l couch
photo by Wenying Yuan on Unsplash
the week
a new week to you
and should you have it
maybe with
some hours yet unplanned
though
expectations beckon
some time wrangled as this
might need wrangling
for
oneself
and for them
each kind
and for each one
and there should be peace in that
and if none
then a chiming and a watchword
to design
and re-design
time
and intent
work with play
to find and have and live the loves that
make the rest
foundation with resources
added
new expectations maybe
balance
margin
whatever called or used
to impose the human
and approving the divine and in
a partnership
to live
and move
and have our being
have time and let the time be normal
for you
and for them
and don’t parse this
rather
you
and them
and maybe for an errant word from
me
or the peer community
peace to you this
week
if it may
with pleasure
and accomplishment
and love as a thread through
all
the fabric to the edges of the loom
and then
tucked under
and
if possible
if and when it’s healthy
live
and work in partnership
c l couch
I hope it’s been a good Father’s Day; yesterday (I didn’t note), was Flag Day in the USA and Mitzi’s birthday, everywhere
Acts 17:28 (referenced)
photo by Greg Rosenke on Unsplash
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