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to an unknown god

(x = space)

x

x

to an unknown god

(acts 17:22-23)

x

the cars hiss outside

like snakes complaining

we had a storm

another might be coming

aren’t we always

in between

we can sleep

only through so much

and then must wake

if only to the aftermath

but then in earnest weather

we’d have been up

to take care of things

before the blow

the pounding of the fists

and stentor breathing

of an angry god

who cannot forgive

our not knowing its name

x

c l couch

x

x

photo by raychel sanner on unsplash

gathering storm over kansas.

x

note (c. f. earlier notes)

the computer’s back, I guess; if so, I’m thankful (thankful for the nonce, anyway)

merry eve before the eve

x

0

Late Cancer

(x = space)

x

x

Late Cancer

(diagnosed, lived out)

x

My brother

Might have to be moved

Again

He is frustrated

Wants to be home

Before he wanted to be

Elsewhere

But elsewhere isn’t working out

I understand

The purpose of a medical setting

Is not to settle in

But to leave

When well

Stay is contraindicated

Home

As it cannot be managed

Still remains the prize

x

He’s in pain

Palliation only goes so far

Before the pain

Folds in again

He’s also frightened

I would be

I am in contemplation

Though these are his days

And shall the cancer

Diagnosed too late

A year ago

Take him to another home

Prepared

At last

To last

x

But there’s today’s pain

I don’t know how to wish

The pain to go away

Without invoking

The scary, heavenly alternative

But prayers aren’t magic

We aren’t dealing with a genie

Waiting to misstep

Our hopes

In misspoken entreaties

Heal my brother

Still

Is every prayer’s day

That might make nothing happen

‘Til the pain-releasing thing

Must happen

Tragically for us remaining

For him who suffers

Most of all

x

It is late December

I agree it is a magic season

How much amazing

Might be borrowed

From days

Of extra stars and circles

Green and all the other colors

Only for him

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Kalle Kortelainen on Unsplash

[photographer’s narrative]

A crisp afternoon around 3pm in Dalsjöfors, Sweden these incredible snowflakes appeared on the hood of our car. You can almost hear the crisp snow creaking under the soles of the winter boots by just looking at them. Pure natural magic.

Dalsjöfors, Sweden

x

3

Grow Up, No, Grow Up

(x = space)

x

x

Grow Up, No, Grow Up

x

I wanted to be a normal child

And still

Qualify somehow

For Neverland

Or to ride a dragon

Unnegotiated

x

Something that’s quotidian

And wild

For an hour or so

A panic in a closet

‘Til the back is found

And open into

Covered branches,

Snowy trees

That beckon like

Fantastic men and women

And I shall have a part

In their next chapter

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Andrea De Santis on Unsplash

Night View of the Dragon Bridge

Da Nang, Vietnam

x

1

Take It Outside

(x = space)

x

x

Take It Outside

x

Here it’s raining

There might be

Snow and sleet around

This is a strange place

For weather

x

I’m used to weather

From the west

Occasionally, from north

Or south

Because Canada or the tropics

Has something to say

To us

x

Here and now

It comes from all directions

I mean it

All the winds

In all their courses

Everything that’s brought with them

Or left here in stillness

When they’ve gone

Or turned away

As if we could conjure

As is conjured, somehow

Rain from anywhere

The denseness in the air

Anything

The comes

And we oblige

By working through it

Who can change it?

Well, I think we better

Not this

From all directions

In our days

Eccentric seasons

But overall

x

Experts

Not deny-ers

Who have no expertise

But go for easy

Ignorance

But experts say

The world has changed

And so has living here

Everywhere

For all

x

Don’t trust science?

Go outside

And move around

Through currents

In the water

Overland

And in the air

See broken ice

Too much

And drowning islands

New channels

We have lived without

x

Take back the Northwest Passage

Keep it blocked

With righteous cold

x

Right now feel the heat

You can

It should be cool

Where is the cool?

Maybe the ozone hole

Is taking it

x

But if it’s not conspiracy

It isn’t

Not this way

Then we may say

That we have done this

And should fix it

Which doesn’t have to be extraordinary

Not perforce

And unsure seeding clouds

Or oceans

Or burning what

We don’t like

(also bears a chance)

Or firing beams

Or changing the base chemistry

Of anything

x

We simply stop

Doing certain things

And use what we know

What Earth has taught us

To fix things

Replant, feed again

In everything

Let it grow

Let Earth grow

The goodness in four elements

And if there’s

A fifth element

(you know)

Maybe it’s

Our exchange

Stupidity for sense

The right to cool

Our rightly angered children

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Javier Miranda on Unsplash

x

0

good night, irene

(x = space)

x

x

good night, irene

(weave away)

x

i don’t know who

irene is

maybe she

spends time

with missus calabash

or to whomever

carol tugs her ear

(maybe

we know)

x

we’re running

a little late

he says each time

on radio

how does he not know?

why doesn’t the network

correct him if

he’s always late?

x

because

saying goodbye

is hard to do

creative

and all these people tried

x

they credit us

with understanding

and a reminder that

some things

even everyday

are new

x

or not

say goodbye however you mean it

there is no cliché

nothing trite

in the next heartbeat

or the word

that comes from there

x

good night, irene

(lead belly

it’s okay to laugh

i think he must

from time

to time)

let’s see you on the flip side

side b

where it’s wonderful

you hear it

when the artists say

they sing

(in side b songs)

hello

x

c l couch

x

x

photo by mick haupt on unsplash

x

0

I Wish I Knew More

(x = space)

x

x

I Wish I Knew More

x

I wish I knew more

Of the Quran

Of the Torah

Of the Talmud

And the Mishnah

(maybe a smidgen

of Kabbalah)

The Vedas

And the Upanishads

Other texts that have inspired

And informed

Other traditions than

My own followings

x

I mean,

I’ve read

Here and there

I’ve listened to stories

Listened

To people talking

But I wish I knew

So much more

For appreciation

And understanding

It’s a big world

Multifarious and changing

While many things

Were established

Long ago

x

I have a twig

There is a tree

I have a drop

There is an ocean

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Basil Lade on Unsplash

x

2

Brother Cat

(x = space)

x

x

Brother Cat

(about Hannah, rescued on Hanover Street)

x

I was the brother cat

Sometimes father

Sometimes mother

We could get confused

You were the sister cat

Doubtlessly

Though you didn’t seem

To mind it

When I used Your Majesty

x

Sister queen cat

Cat with an attitude

Little cat

Who acted big

Alpha cat

When there was a beta

x

Funny cat

You were so serious

Except when you weren’t

You’d run out the door

And up the tree

High enough for me

To reach you

Bring you down

Hold you ‘til we were both

Inside

x

You were the cat

Who gave me cues

For petting

And for making

Entryways for sleeping

Out of blankets, though

Mostly out of me

x

I could work

As long as you were

On my lap,

Which was your strategy

x

A challenge came

When people came to call

If they wanted you,

You would check out their laps

Sometimes their faces

Generally, be slow and still

More so

Than you were with me

Or if you weren’t sure about

Who was visiting,

You’d jump up, pour into

My lap

And from there

Stare at the suspect

x

For nineteen years

You were remarkable cat company

Despite the allergies

I miss you

And would have you back

In fact, occasionally I see you

In a blurred and catly place

Inside the corner of my eye

x

C L Couch

x

yesterday I read “Sister Cat” by Frances Mayes

x

x

Photo by Sourish Trivedy on Unsplash

A super good-looking lion (like me of course [photographer talking]) enjoying an evening on a cool rock in B&W!

Maasai Mara National Reserve, Ngiro-are Road, Kenya

x

2

The God of Sleep

(x = space)

x

x

The God of Sleep

x

Morpheus?

No, that’s for dreams

I’ll have to look it up

How about the Sandman

For the present?

x

Sandwoman

Sandperson

Spell-check doesn’t like these

But whoever

Might come to call

For some obeisance

And a following

Whatever ritual

(save sacrifice of something

other than me)

To make

To have the next several hours

Gone

To Elysia

Or Parnassus

Where I could learn to draft

With poets

Or anywhere that keeps me quiet

Unaware

In the world

Of you and me

x

C L Couch

x

x

Hypnos—I looked it up—is the Greek god of sleep

x

Photo by Brina Blum on Unsplash

Sleeping French Bulldog in the Sun

Weisenau, Mainz, Germany

x

1

summation

(x = space)

x

x

summation

x

its been a day and i havent told you anything ive been in pain and there has been some amelioration through being still and water food when I was hungry

x

ive been praying prayers as time rick goes by for welcome home to those whove died healing for those in hospital or in pain for reasons that take us other places or simply to the heart and mind and spirit of a promise

x

now the day is over night has drawn nigh to paraphrase another older song more sleep for you less pain for you more health in the morning or reverse that if you work at night third shifting

x

c l couch

x

x

photo by gilberto parada on unsplash

x

0

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