applying what is read to the realities outside
the poem appeals
to hope
to strive
to find
to yield
we should be so lucky as to call a final voyage
and then at the dock find
the ready ship
thinking “Ulysses” by Tennyson
Frodo departs
the wound never healed
did it
Weathertop
nice name for tn outlook more than
a small battle
in
the night when all we hoped for
in our travel was
food cooked in our fire
and rest
after
but they came
and not
for the sullen hero on our side
would
have prevailed and did
so far as to lave a wound
that
has not healed not in the land behind
these shores
and so after
all the travail even of
victory
it must be time to go for now not qualifying
anymore
if
ever was to stay
to live through future parties
beneath the large tree
now
a park
as all might grow anew after the war
and yet
departure for
the ones who bore the most
it seems
with
promise of a haven
behind blurred lines
as
surf and land compete
even for the sure place behind of
healing
and
other blessings
near the conclusion of The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien
c l couch
photo by Ray T on Unsplash
still Monday
Bible study, pedantry, sorry
sigh
so however counting
today liturgically
is Holy Monday
if mostly
which
is
a Monday
to acknowledge spiritually
to slog through as with any Monday by
perception
of our culture
aiming for
Friday
Jesus is in Jerusalem
by
tradition
clearing out the Temple
having
final meetings with
strangers
maybe those who
came
to meet him
and what kind of take is this
on meetings
in
our culture
intrsansigent gatherings in
blank rooms to
variously
go through an agenda
then
leave in secular gratitude
maybe with ideas
for
the next hours
next days
or
religionless season
we also read
hear
of an encounter Jesus has
with the leaders of the day
not
Romans so much
as Christ’s own and it goes
badly
really badly
to reinforce a conspiracy
that bad
there will be a meal
later
shared momentously
founding Eucharist
Communion
and
impose a focus on command
to love each other and to be called
friends
who follow Jesus
then more final things
happen
with bitterness and
danger
in
fact
condemnation
increasing
so here we are on Monday
how to have it into
unmarked
by
attitude
Tuesday and Wednesday
what to do
how
to do it
how to have these hours and these days
if
in the spirit of one kind
or another
the spirit of the age
claimed by a few
or
the spirit of all ages claimed by one
then
offered to the rest
like and as
the choice for faith
and
to change the rest so that
the law
the code
come
through and all the love that is
in fact
commanded
c l couch
photo by Martin Joos on Unsplash
teachables
learnables
a week from now is Maundy Thursday
I believe
antique name made from mandatum
meaning command
because they were not suggestions Jesus gave
at the Last Supper
but
orders
ours to obey
if we’re going to follow him
the savior with indwelling spirit and creating God
three
one
God all the time
who
John 3:17
sent Jesus here not
to condemn the world but that the world
by Jesus
would be saved
we might be saved
in present
tense
the price paid
made into grace that is free for us
not because the cost was weightless
in meaning but because
God
dying is what God may do
and then once
first
victorious
over death offer eternity to us
as by that grace we may
choose
to live
if after the irony of mortal death
which doesn’t change
sigh
so on Thursday
we had a dinner at the church each year
cooked and
served
by deacons
elders
many meal volunteers
what followed then
was a service of worship with
Communion
special ‘cause it was at night
and
I don’t know even the child of me
felt the community
gathering
first
in the hall and then the mullioned
beamed and genially beaming
room
c l couch
photo by Geda Žyvatkauskaitė on Unsplash
3 poems from books of hours
sorry bugs
bugs
I grieve when they’re not
where
they should be
say
in the ground
away in the water somewhere
flying
plant
to
plant and seeking shelter where it’s best
they hive
I mean bugs general
any kind
though my local infestation
around
the sink this morning was
small ants so small they might be something
else
and bugs
like reptiles
sometimes birds
have a surprise upon appearing
as
they do
most often without preamble
announcement of any kind
except
to know just after
they arrive
and
yes
the building’s old I rent part of and hardly
looked after
pristine
and the weather has collapsed upon itself from
cold to hot to cool to
I’m not sure what it is
right
now
for having campaigned ‘round the plumbling
over counterwork
sigh
what is that inutile line
why can’t we all get along
well
sometimes
in plague or in invasion
we can’t
do so much either side but endure
sigh
rites of spring
one things about spring
it seems
is many cultures have their special days
maybe not
or
perceived now
because to the north
at least
it seems that with the tilting of the Earth
the other way
with
warmer comes outside life for
those hibernated if in suburban ways
since
when
maybe October or November
as if there were a frame
beginning
lunar years
and
going through midsummer
when the festivals are prominent
Buddhist
Hindu
Jewish
Muslim
Christian
and those are the few I know something of
if not so much beyond
acquaintance
you may name your
own
to share
though this world is more knowing
universally
well
globally
we may take part
in action and respect
as
the observing part of loving
our neighbors
as I believe
all of our codes
apply
and
of course
there are three seasons’ worth to celebrate
in all our special
ways
and
yes
to the south
they have so much to teach by transmission as
we
have need to learn
to enjoy the spiritual rites and
faires along
and
yes
I leave out so many things in
presenting what’s forefront of and
between
such special times
Theodore Edward
and a final thought
to have
though you might have been wishing
I were done
before
but I’m wondering why
we
make cute stories and cute
toys
out of things we have to exploit
or even fear from time
to time
and
I guess it’s human
as is assigned
in
class
to anthropomorphize
to make human out of unhuman fauna
flora
entities and substances here
to wherever
and
who wouldn’t want the option of a teddy bear
except those
maybe
who live near fear of bears
all the time
and
maybe even then
the sun
snowflakes
flowers
mammals
reptiles
from all the batches of things or things
that
seem to go alone
and maybe we fear less with toys
and so
act more knowing when
it’s time
I don’t know
and what for an alternative
geometric
maybe
as in
don’t forget to bring your stuffed cube along
or
rhomboid
or hexagon
c l couch
photo by michael podger on Unsplash
near the jungle
I wrote about the wars
all
the wars
as there are three great ones now
and battles between
nations
besides and civil violent strife
as well
that I guess might be anywhere
I don’t record so much as encourage perspective
mine
yes
though more so yours for I’d like to raise the kind of
conversation that
could matter
that could lead to change
and
yes
I slant the change
desired
as everything is learning
all is bias
objectivity a tool
even
an aim
but not by impulse who we are
or Earth is
or
Earth’s God is
you see
the bias can be wonderful
we learn each other interests
and
agendas
no more hiding
we may think globally in terms of distinerest
which is not
un-interest
or
indifference
rather
a willingness to surrender one’s own interests first
in order to exchange
to have a dialogue
enact a plan that serves however one is angled
then
another
I wrote on war and will do so
again
and especially while wars are with us
which
speaking ecclesiastically
could be a while
a song of peace
after the borning cry
two
lines of contribution from hymns of Scandinavia
maybe reflects the attitude
after one invented destruction for the one
with others
lean in toward
offering
the prize for peace
think of all those who lived and
died
and lived
fighting
returning if returning
one way of the other
there are the poets
who
remember
and we read their work
there are the women and the men who served
beside
creating services
to keep bodies knit a while
at
least for triage
then ideally to get them home
civilian
scientists
inventors
medical people
and
those moved by cause and insight
say
that of Clara Barton or
Charles Drew
or you
or me
and us
contributing
describing
raising thought and feeling about war
frankly to get over it
and
finally to grow into something better
sets of skills and
fondness for the world
for
the alternatives
say
most of all
for peace
c l couch
photo by Zdeněk Macháček on Unsplash
I took the title from something else I was drafting; they are words with many more fine words and engaging notes that make the song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” performed by The Tokens and written by Luigi Creatore, Hugo Peretti, George David Weiss, and Linda Solomon, according to Musixmatch
and I suppose the title’s not unique but a few words that anyone might assemble to make a point or set a scene; but I was looking at the song anyway and then, you know, it got in my head the way songs sometimes go winding through, know what I mean?
I worked on other things, shorter things, placid things; but this kept getting to me
Appalachian Communion
not everywhere but somewhere
biscuits and water
that’s
what we have
and bless
the Lord
consume him in our church
at
the time
and
we trust the Lord likes poverty
to set us here
and
accepts the hard bread that we offer with
the water of
same kind we were baptized
in
when
choosing to believe
so keeping faith with his blood and body
best we may
c l couch
photo by Sean Foster on Unsplash
Billboards and signage near the Smokies.
cats are black watch out
we do get superstitious
Friday by number
it’s a pastel day
brushed colors as if painted
by the art-maker
it’s not that haiku are easier except physically to type; while sometimes impulsive, the content often takes as long if not longer than to set down more; I have a friend who says that of Mark, the gospel thought written first because it’s short; my friend (with a related PhD) realizes, as I understand from teaching composition, that writing down is harder than writing out
not that I command haiku (goodness, no); I simply try and learn and try
I’m still struggling for breath—yes, the process for inspiration, I suppose—but I mean literally; someday I’ll be living somewhere else with clearer air to get back some health, while the ongoing issues are the main ones that have to be ongoing (heart disease and such)
I hope each of you is well
thanks for your concerns expressed—and thanks to all of you always
c l couch
photo by Anton Ponomarenko on Unsplash
cat in London home
Friends, acquaintances, blog-readers of many sorts,
I am very sick. My apartment has been filled with mold and milder since the summer. I’ve tried to get some treatment for the place and gotten rid of many things I cannot keep, due to infestation. By now, I’ve run out of time and money. I don’t know what that means except that in my current state I’m probably going to miss all sorts of things I’d otherwise be doing or at least think of doing.
I’ll try to go on posting, though that might change as well.
And I have reported the problem to the landlord who denies there’s a problem and then raised the rent. Penalty for complaining, I suppose.
Guess that’s it for now. If you continue being in touch, I shall be glad. I’ll simply be worse at responding than usual.
I’ll be letting you know, of course, when things should change.
Thank you
Christopher
(c l couch)
2 haiku for Minnesota
what is it we need
the warmth of peace most of all
Minnesota iced
know there’s loss of life
anger with the fear in that
to pray and protest
c l couch
photo by Blake Harbison on Unsplash
Lake Superior Lighthouse
Minnesota, United States
clcouch123 
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