the question of this evening
(responding to “Now the Day Is Over”)
evening draws nigh
the old song
imposes
for the song becomes
well
rather maudlin
melancholy
minimally
there is a prayer
and that’s fine
for Jesus to keep us through
the night
but
some will ignore
all this prayer
to fire up
the evening hours
instead
so lie low tonight
or charge
the time there is
to pub
and such
though morning comes
and with it
some responsibility
unless
retirement
has taken over
as an age
or
attitude
and then
what then
a song of peace
results in consternation
for there is much to figure out
by night
by day
rebellion
indifference
extremes cut through
by rest
c l couch
(the song often sung in my college chapel Sunday night—here, sorry, the assurance questioned
Now the day is over,
Night is drawing nigh,
Shadows of the evening
Steal across the sky.
verse 1)
photo by Joshua Sortino on Unsplash
“Sometimes you just have to look up.”
(caption given)
murmuring
what shall we do tonight
I think I shall lie in
though
quiet so much better when
you are around
and also making your
home noise
thank you for companionship
above
below the skin
the sense
of things
c l couch
photo by Gui Avelar on Unsplash
Epiphanaeity
It’s pretty
White and black
I don’t think
I’ve said that yet
The new snow for a while
Outside the second-story
Window
And might last
A while
C L Couch
Photo by Hulki Okan Tabak on Unsplash
snow and God—only one is white, the other all colors (2 poems)
the ends of Earth
in the north
though not quite there
we tend to think of
snow
this way
so we flock the marketplaces
with lists
for liturgies
and we might need these things
if
not for the not
we shall be
snowed in
hoping not for enough
but
honestly
for more than
with enough
perhaps
electric
and electrons
to share
folding chairs in parking
spaces
that should be public
though the chairs
are in an attitude of waiting
by
the doors
an encroachment on
an agenda to stay
clear
first inside the head
remembering
(or
maybe first)
the heart
the
spirit
to follow
then in the summer
those of us
not
south of south
shall fear the other
extreme
heat
with all the heat we might become
and that hear
on the inside
even
now
(based on being told the snow shall fall at midnight)
shall
and how shall God
love us when
we hate
whatever beside evil
with evil’s
agency
injustice
we may scorn these
and all the rest
be love
thoughts
emotions
plans
the new instinct once we
have faith
to love
when dangerous
or fragile
at the least
and God shall
love
yet somehow never
on condition
but
to love
which might make
salvation
a condition
as
decision
binding us both
with an amazing fear
not
comprehending though
we all somehow agreed to
live and
after
life
c l couch
photo by Jakob Owens on Unsplash
Remember the Good People of Plains then and New Orleans Now
I don’t think I’ve said anything yet
To post
Or what I’d prefer
Briefer
Thoughtful
Something for all or most or many of us
To share
This might be a day off
Though I’m unsure
Why
I mean
I didn’t get much sleep
And the difficult situation locally
Around me
Occurred last night regarding sleep
And about the situation
Generally
These days
But what have I for you
A good word
Maybe
Could be
Think
Or could be
Love
And
Yeah
How ‘bout
We go with these
Today
We go with both
C L Couch
Photo by iSawRed on Unsplash
on my oldest brother’s birthday
what shall I say
happy birthday to my brother
many
more birthdays
and painless shoulder
for a gift
and thank goodness
you’re the healthy one
of us
and selfishly
I count on that
as you
and then a model
for the rest
and so last seventy
by the way
we count
and it’s a good year
please
with all the good that is
and also due
c l couch
my brother Steve, 2 January
photo by Stavrialena Gontzou on Unsplash
The First for Promise
(1 January 2025)
I
It’s a cold
Gray day
No promise of winter
Say
In the form of
Romantic snow
Not the fearful kind
The same
The foreboding of the same
That for me
Is a bad heart
And
Bad neighbors in
A chilly town
And an existential thinking
About how
To have and read
The next
Passage
Of
Things
And may I ask
What shape and content
Yours
Toward a sound structure
With
The broken beams that
Get majorly
In the way
While you are building
And yet
(for
me
for us)
The pressure’s on
As in
The stultified quality
Of things that never change
And yet
Should
In fact
They must
For the things that should not change
But must
How about in
The promise of new
And then
New years
II
Sigh
It sounds like
Resolutions’
Trope
The things we say
We sell things over
And yet
Will
In the popular
Way
Give up
Say
In a month or so
If that
Sigh
What now
What new way to say it
What way to say
We really mean
It
This time
What counts
What reifies
Well
We have this
The versicle way
To say old things to keep
And new
To alter
Songs
Novels
All sorts of declarations
Maybe and
Maybe which is why
We have these
We grew
And grow these
When
Needed
A new way can and
Does change
And so
What shall our new ways be
And so
Answer in
Your own ways and
Our ways together
Please
III
I guess I think
This needs to be
A year
Of change
Or else we’ll have
The same old thing
Dissatisfying everyone
Some
More if not
Forever
C L Couch
Photo by Wilmer Martinez on Unsplash
Times Square, New York, United States
Beautiful city lights looked like something straight out of the movies. The colors were inspired by the Tron: Legacy film. [What Wilmer has to say.]
By Numbers
Some of you
I think
Have had
The new year’s moment
Already
And are into the new number
The rest of us
Shall follow in fireworks
And maybe smaller flames
Inside
Not resolutions
Though they’re formal
But
In some craziness of growth
Some of which
Goes
Yes
Formally
As far as cells
E.g.
Might grow
As far as they might grow
Though sometimes cells are crazy
Too
There are classes
Too
And levels of promotions
And stages of development
(uncrazy)
And then the things that happen
We might make
To happen
Or shall take place
Anyway
To change us
To challenge us
In all of these
To grow
So happy new number
Sun-
Counters
Though some liturgically
Have started weeks
Ago
While others will have their first
Numbers
At yet
Other times
But let’s wish well
All
The beginnings with
“Well”
Meaning a tiny pledge
Perhaps
To help
C L Couch
Photo by Sichen Xiang on Unsplash
A Christmas Season Message
(anytime)
So once it’s proclaimed
That
God loves you
And a presumption
God loves
Me
Then
We might consider
For ourselves and the world
God loves us
It’s not an easy love
Because the world
Isn’t easy
Rather
Selfish
And destructive
You know this
And the presence of God
Is not made so visible
Or at all
Though there are stories
And what does
This love
Mean
To ask catechistically
Well
It’s the strongest fragile going
Because the world and the devil
Seem
To have their ruinous say
And rule over
Temptations
Ready to wreck us
When we’re turned
Ignoring
Keep from us notions of
Redemption
With reconciliation
Back
Into the body of believers
And so much
Too much
Is hidden in the world
Like treasures found
In mines
As well as ancient
Tombs
That were new once in grief
And now perhaps
Remembrance
Truth hides too easily
Secrets used
To cover truths
Of course
And there’s a pushing under of
Open justice
That restores
By a greater interest
In control of
Rules
And closed-over until-
Declared
Tyranny
Meaning
Sinful attitudes and strategies
Allowed
Through good things bent
Too often by
Prosperity
And punishment
Which warps the understanding of
What’s fair and
Openly
Respectful
In favor of shaded interest
And is this real
Well
All of it must be
Making
Sad sense out of what
Explains
The way things are
And love is hard in this
And some would say impossible
As a human
Reaction
Understood
While love itself might go
Underground
Deeper than the superficial world
Knows
Love might have to hide
Rising when it’s risky
But
To seal the deal on planet Earth
And who knows where else
That better
Vows
Mean something
And we must take the chance to say
And sometimes write so
And say so
From a podium
Until repudiation of such public love with
Podium
And church or temple
Fired by hate
With worldly agendas behind
‘Til what is good
To hear
To bring us together
Is then ashes
Love is strong
Even when assailed
And it shall
Last beyond
But
Oh
It
Takes a beating now and then
Or all the time
Depending on who’s
Or what’s
In charge
But love regardless
God’s behind it and in front
And is invisible
Irascibly
It seems
Even to allow great danger to
Adherents
But love is
Called for
Anyway
And we should love
Each other even more visible than
God
‘Til God more obviously shows
Keeping the understanding
Learning
And the living that
As we might
Know
Singly and together
God loves us
C L Couch
(for its own lectern maybe, serving a sermon or another kind of message in a hall or other place or kind of gathering)
Photo by virkelighet on Unsplash
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