(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
x
(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
(x = space)
x
x
The Thing with Feathers First
x
Birds are odd
x
We like them for their
Feathers
And their beaks
And beady eyes
x
They peck away
For food,
Sometimes for shelter
x
They signal presence
And need
And declaration
In their calls
From their perches
Or flight plans
x
You see,
They know the seasons well
x
If we could listen
We might know more
x
They frustrate and inspire
Our need
To fly on our own
x
We might cherish the colors
Pinned to bodies;
We can make the colors
And so leave
Them on the birds
So we might complement
x
There is obsession
With the turkey
Once or twice a year
Over here
x
We breed them
So they’re not a challenge
Except to cook
And then to carve,
Which others
Might do
For us
x
We say it’s for the birds
Meaning silly
If not stupid
x
We ignore their smarts,
Their networks
On branches and on wires
Not to mention through
The air
x
In folklore,
Birds carry messages:
Bird-banders wonder
What they might be
Telling us
x
Why were we given birds?
As reminders
x
About freedom
In captivity,
The sad and mortal Earth
And those who only know the ground
So well
x
They teach us harmony,
Disharmony—sometimes
The savagery
In talons,
Sometimes the kindness
In community
Even survival
Glowing air
With song
Like litanies
For practicing our allegories
As all the notes rise
x
C L Couch
x
x
“Hope” is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all –
. . .
Emily Dickinson
x
Photo by thom masat on Unsplash
x
(I saw a picture of a flicker in the desert, pecking into a cactus;
my grandfather was a bird-bander for the government)
x
(x = space)
x
x
Forever Invitation, RSVP
x
There is a table
You know this
The right shape
With many chairs
All are welcome
We have technology
For turns
For clarity
And intention
For a planet
x
All are guests
The host might seem
Off somewhere
Though is returning
With angels
And tidings
x
We might have to work
Mainly with us
And pray in evenings
Those who pray
While also working on
Best thoughts
And hopefulness
As gifts like creation
Even resources
To discuss
Arrange
And practice
For a future
A humanity
x
n. b.
x
Yes
And at the final conclave,
There will be
A sky command
For snacks
And meals
For needs
For celebration
Everywhere
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Trude Jonsson Stangel on Unsplash
x
(x = space)
x
x
Lockerbie
x
So many lost people,
Lost at Lockerbie
x
They are in the news again
And should be;
All our losses need remembered
(losses’ need)
x
We think
A culprit has been found;
Headlines, texts, and images
Need smoothing out
x
How awful to be made
To remember
And how necessary
x
Let’s not look
Away
But mourn
With forward eyes
x
C L Couch
x
x
Lockerbie bombing suspect in US custody
x
Photo by Andrew Ridley on Unsplash
x
(x = space)
x
x
Advent 3 is a gray day
x
I am sad on this gray day
not totally bereft
because,
well, because
Emmanuel
God with us
let all mortal flesh keep silent
and instead
in fear and trembling stand,
which means
we’ll need our bones and muscles, too,
everything we think we are
because most of us see
while the important things
they are invisible
x
so much of this could read
as a ghost story
so much is insubstantial
to the senses
and the things we have
that measure substance
substances
chemicals
proteins
DNA
pages are recording devices
with only provenance
to share
if they last long enough
for evidence
narration
testimony
an insubstantial story
about the supernatural
the things that leave no evidence behind
that break into our lives
nonetheless
then left
and we are left with a decision
shall we believe?
what shall we believe?
two more weeks to get it right
leave everything in boxes
open one box
that has
the precious thing in it
the thing carried on wings
the thing that speaks on mountains
and in valleys
you know what it is for us
it is a story
maybe an organic
introduction,
after
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Thays Orrico on Unsplash
x
(x = space)
x
x
Brittney Griner
x
I’m glad she’s back
Aren’t you?
Return the others, please—and
We should say
You may have your own
x
We don’t like each other now
Except maybe in passing
On the street
On the subway
In the store
Real people
Real person to real person
We pick each other up
In small ways all the time
x
More real than politics
That makes a war
Forgets the real people
But counts numbers
Of them
Plays them on a map
And in a mortal dream
Of conquest,
Acquisition
To rationalize
Before the rest
Of temporal authority
That needs speeches
Bites for press releases
Justifying
All those people
In the street
And the street
No longer,
Well,
No longer there
Picking up each other
That we no longer do
Because we were made numbers
Then like gum on penciled math
The strategy erased
x
C L Couch
x
x
After Release from Russian Custody, Focus Is on Providing Brittney Griner and Her Family Additional Support, Officials Say
Story by Aya Elamroussi • 6h ago
x
Photo by Possessed Photography on Unsplash
Disruptive
x
(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
(x = space)
x
x
Superlative Thursday
x
The caffeine’s worked
A little
Now what to say?
I hope this Thursday’s
Grand for you
You could stand some grandness
As a gift
Don’t question
Anything deserving
Simply have the goodness
Offer oblations, if you must
Or find something
Good to drink
On your own
With a friend
Have an ordinary Thursday
That is to say
Extraordinary
Go between the world’s words
Or these
Where there’s rest
Breathing without agenda
Have peace instead or anything
You want here
Then move
You might find
You’re a little better at moving
Make it Friday
Yay for Friday that
In the culture’s
Easier
x
And if it’s not Thursday
Make this happen
Today
Even if it’s Monday
(ugh)
Even if it’s Friday
(yay)
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Maxim Berg on Unsplash
x
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