(x = space)
x
x
For Real
x
Ouch
It hurts
Somehow my foot
Was traumatized
In a sort of
Accident last week
I like to think
It’s getting better,
But that might be
Wishful thinking
x
I’ve been hobbling
While I’ve been,
Well, hobbled
Maybe there’s a lesson
In this
That I don’t know at present
All I’m thinking about
Now
Is ouch
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Max Bender on Unsplash
x
(x = space)
x
x
Finally, an Affirmation
x
Sometimes to dream
Is stupid,
Because
I think that
Of myself
Who am I to dream?
How can I make the waked-
Up version happen?
Who smiles on
Me to make it happen?
x
Dreams spark on the
Inside
(where there is heat);
They are
A matter of
The inner life, the life
We have when we
Are at our best
Or at our rest—sometimes
I’m not sure
Which is which
x
I share this with you
Because
Our dreams have value,
And we should have them
(some we’re
going to have, anyway)
And the truer ones
The ones that form,
Form again,
Take hold
x
The dreams that we
Should have
That the ideal revelation of
The universe
Approves
x
C L Couch
x
x
Gloomy Forest in the Fog
Photo by Jay Mantri on Unsplash
x
(x = space)
x
x
blue day turns gray with
rain to see and hear and then
lightning and thunder
x
C L Couch
x
x
(x = space)
x
x
Carbon Copies
x
Sometimes I don’t know
Why I believe in God
Because God is unaffected
By my question
Or the doubt
x
God’s existence being
Unpredicated by my
Belief in God
x
It’s not the best start
To philosophy, though Voltaire
Speaks of our need
To invent God, where the
Need seems to have been
God inventing us
x
The universe
Cosmos, anyway
Might be a random
Set (set randomly)
Of chemical reactions
Given the first state
Of ephemera
Something or place we
Might have called
Etherea
x
Without a place
Or calling it,
God could be
God of random
x
We set the first
Dichotomy as chaos
And order,
When it might have been
Void and substance
x
Our having what we have
Through design
Or the lack thereof
That could explain the
Platypus or
Emu
x
Genesis
Out of genesis,
More than ex nihilo
While God cogitated,
Then declaring to the host
That more
Company was needed
Like the first,
The universe before
The universe
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Michael M on Unsplash
x
(x = space)
x
x
Unelegant Petition
x
God,
Will you give me a good day
This day?
x
This is whining,
And it isn’t:
There’s real pain, confusion,
And frustration
x
And I’m not certain
Of my way
x
Maybe bad days can show
The way as well;
But I’m asking for a
Good day simply,
Well,
Because it hurts
x
But if a prophet’s
Tortured way
Is necessary,
Then so be it
(amen)
Though I’d like the way
To be smoothed soon
x
And so you know,
I’m glad to work
In the be-thankful-for-small-
Favors
Department
Anytime
x
C L Couch
x
x
Old Train Tracks
Photo by Ivan Aleksic on Unsplash
x
(x = space)
x
x
Onces and Futures
x
I used to have a script
It wasn’t very good
Stitched-together parts
Of B-movies and what
I overheard
I could have used
A mentor, you know, a
Merlin—but then
There’s expectation
What do I bring
But nothing, what will I
Find but everything
That is the rule of Camelot
And the crystal cave
I would have
Done my homework, I believe
Looked forward to
Some lessons while
Slogging through the rest
I would have
Listened, such as a young one
Can
But that was an age
And several castles ago,
Each castle dwindling
Until only one
Remains and then only
The tower made of gray, weathered
Stone but standing firm
Through what we call
Good bones
And there might be
A teacher inside, still
Good morning,
Myrrdin
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Ian Simmonds on Unsplash
Flatiron Building, New York, United States
This was a lucky find, I was running between destinations on a work trip and spotted the puddle. Everyone else stood on the corner looking up to take shots of the building. I waited for the ripples to settle after people had crossed the road, then got snapping.
x
The Once and Future King by T. H. White
x
(x = space)
X
x
Poem 181
(thanks for the Poetry 180 Project)
x
Where are you?
I’ll miss you for the summer
Billy Collins, thank you
And the Library of Congress
They are contact days, I know
Or contract
The days in a school year
By the number
And the project of a poem a day
To keep us sane,
To give us something to talk about
In class,
Who knows, maybe for extra credit
To write companion pieces
Illustrate them, turn them in
Tack them to a board
Somewhere (but in a place
of honor)
And for me, the poems give this
Once-and-future teacher
Something good
Once a day, especially
When nothing else seems good
Something to carry me
A thought, a momentary inspiration
New words, new ideas
Or simply confirmation that
I should keep reading (writing)
On my own, too
x
thank you
x
C L Couch
x
x
Poetry 180 is designed to make it easy for students to hear or read a poem on each of the 180 days of the school year. I have selected the poems you will find here with high school students in mind. They are intended to be listened to, and I suggest that all members of the school community be included as readers. A great time for the readings would be following the end of daily announcements over the public address system.
Billy Collins
Former Poet Laureate of the United States
x
Nazaré Wall Art
x
(x = space)
x
x
Toward the Ending of a Great War
(for 6 June 1944)
x
Today, many soldiers died
On all sides
x
Many civilians as well
In their towns
And on their fields,
Whole families
And many animals
x
For children
And for parents
We can’t imagine worse
Except for plague and
Drought, which are
Other kinds
Of war
x
The despot didn’t die
And would lead its people
Through
Ongoing and great suffering
x
Awful suffering,
Horrible—blooded,
Vivisected,
Tactical annihilation
By its hand
x
Today, many soldiers died
And civilians;
Many soldiers and civilians live
Then and now
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Shalev Cohen on Unsplash
x
(x = space)
x
x
Apologies
(and Philippians 4:8)
x
Oh, dear, it’s Sunday
And there’s nothing in my
Sometimes Protestant, suburban mind
To share
I didn’t pay attention to the sermon
(too many points)
Or the meaning of the lyrics
(one broad and unconvincing point),
Though I’ll say the problem
Is inside my head,
What’s left of my heart
And there are those who had their
Sabbath, starting Friday,
And those who have a time for
Sabbath every day
I could envy
x
And is there something I can say?
Think on these things
With the Philippians,
Which might be a good list
For anyone
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Dariusz Mejer on Unsplash
x
clcouch123 
Recent Comments