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Devotion

Devotion

 

The cult of Mary rose

Because chivalry needed an aim

And the grail was not enough

A lifestyle was needed

 

A reason for the knight to rise, go

After dragons every day

In every breath a reason

That became the lady

 

It could have been a good thing, I suppose

Maybe was

Maybe some curtailing of violence happened

But she became an object, still

Mary and all women

Something to adore, perhaps

Something to report to,

Still a thing

 

If women could be knights

And, who knows, they might have been

They might have taken it up with her

A real reason, real cause

Not dragons but equality

Real beasts to slay

 

A crusade not against western Asia

But with one’s own country

Until one’s own had real faith

In strength

And in conviction

 

The kind that makes sense out of armor

That gives a blade a reason

To be shined and ready

Humanity

Divinity

Belief in everything that shines

And lasts

 

C L Couch

 

 

The 12th and 13th centuries saw an extraordinary growth of the cult of the Virgin in Western Europe, inspired in part by the writings of theologians such as Bernard of Clairvaux. The movement found its grandest expression in the French cathedrals, often dedicated to “Our Lady”, such as Notre-Dame de Paris and Notre-Dame de Bayeux among others.[70] Walsingham and other places of Marian pilgrimage developed large popular followings. At the height of the pilgrimage movement in the 11th and 12th centuries, hundreds of people were traveling almost constantly from one Marian shrine to the next.[71]

70  Department of Medieval Art and The Cloisters. “The Cult of the Virgin Mary in the Middle Ages”. The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

71  Renaissance and Reformation by William Roscoe Estep 1986 ISBN 0-8028-0050-5, page 7.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veneration_of_Mary_in_the_Catholic_Church

 

Joan of Arc (French: Jeanne d’Arc[3][4] pronounced [ʒan daʁk]; c. 1412 – 30 May 1431),[5] nicknamed “The Maid of Orléans” (French: La Pucelle d’Orléans), is considered a heroine of France for her role during the Lancastrian phase of the Hundred Years’ War, and was canonized as a Roman Catholic saint.

3  Her name was written in a variety of ways, particularly before the mid-19th century. See Pernoud and Clin, pp. 220–21. Her signature appears as “Jehanne” (see www.stjoan-center.com/Album/, parts 47 and 49; it is also noted in Pernoud and Clin).

4  In archaic form, Jehanne Darc (Pernoud Clin 1998, pp. 220–221), but also Tarc, Daly or Day (Contamine Bouzy Hélary 2012 pp. 511; 517-519).

5  An exact date of birth (6 January, without mention of the year), is uniquely indicated by Perceval de Boulainvilliers, councillor of king Charles VII, in a letter to the duke of Milan. . . .

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_of_Arc

 

after Marie d’Orléans – Eglise de Saint-Pair-sur-mer

Prokofiev – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=74909310

 

2

The Martians

The Martians

 

I feel a mechanical breeze

And I’m thankful

There’s real light in here

And from the lamps

Thank goodness for invention

As for my invention,

I’m not sure what to write about

 

A kind of hazy, light-colored day

Or the gift of light,

Colors on the rest

I think were I on Mars

I’d see there were a tint

Or some kind of curtain lowered

Over everything

 

Maybe eventually

I’d see the ochre tones as normal

That this is color for a Martian

My transitory home

‘Til there be oxygen in the sky

To breathe

 

And then what of the color?

Maybe it would look like Earth

A baby blue on everything

 

Though ancient Martians

If only microbe denizens

Could no longer

Look on home

 

C L Couch

 

 

Photo by SpaceX on Unsplash

 

0

The Hours

The Hours

 

It is a quiet day so far

The only noise I hear is mine

Short steps here and there

The creaking microwave

(yes, it creaks when working

sometimes me, too)

Soft murmurs from the television

The illusion that we’re

Interacting

 

It shouldn’t have to be

The start of a campaign

A march for quiet times for

For writing or whatever

I’m grown: I should have it

When I need it

Raise some noise

When I want to

 

Otherwise, the timing of a cenobite

Who wishes only to be left alone

In prayer

A world of prayer

In which the supplicant, petitioner

Enjoys a pure way filled with silent atoms

Paving the way

For all the calls, complaints,

Requests to God

 

Sometimes too much, I think

The hermit should get out more

If at all

There is a world

The one prayed for

We should know it better

Before closing off

To help it

 

A fortress of solitude?

Is that why the heroes need one?

Shut oneself off

To better understand

The causes that we fight for

Extract ingredients from the bowl

Before they’re mixed again

Before we fly back to Metropolis

To take it all on

Again

 

C L Couch

 

 

Photo by Keenan Constance on Unsplash

Johannesburg, South Africa

 

5

This Magic Moment

This Magic Moment

 

I don’t want anything right now

Except to breathe

And that’s conceit

I’m sure there all kinds of things I want

 

To feel a breeze (there,

I’ve adjusted the fan)

To have sleeves to push up my arms

(I have those)

Enough vision to see what I am writing

Enough sound to believe

There’s interaction

In reality

 

In reality, I’m writing free,

Which is not so bad

I bought this moment

And I own it

Now no one else can take it back

Like some, small precious thing

You know the kind I mean

Kept somewhere

 

A moment of your company

Is something more

I can only ask

 

C L Couch

 

 

Photo by Museums Victoria on Unsplash

HMAS Australia, Rotary Photographic Series, ‘The Only Girl I Ever Loved’, 1914 -1918

 

7

Ending of the Week

Ending of the Week

(through the sickness)

 

It’s a special day

A day in Ramadan

Sabbath time will start for Jews

Christians may anticipate

A sabbath, too

For those who don’t believe,

It’s Friday

And it’s now

 

There is no better time

For breathing and for other

Action

Speaking of breathing,

The Buddhists can teach

The rest

Something about that

And they do

 

As far as I know, we are between

Times for special Hindu

Celebrations

But fauna call for

Remembrance all the time

We all should respect nature

So well

 

And this is what I know

Not so much, really

So many stories to see,

To hear

I won’t receive them all

But I want to

 

For those without a weekend,

It is different

I can feel for you,

If you don’t mind

I used to have my weekends

In the week

But for the front-liners

Standing, acting against disease

With everything that

Conflagrates

I don’t know what to say except

You rank me

And thank you

 

C L Couch

 

 

Photo by Gift Habeshaw on Unsplash

Addis Abeba, Ethiopia

 

1

Breastplate-Thinking

Breastplate-Thinking

 

God

Is something

Someone

We look up to

But if the breastplate’s right

We can look down to

God as well

Look ahead

Turn around

Lift up a scoop of earth

Part some water, just a little

We can look at hills,

Even mountains

Down inside a valley

Inside mouse holes

Even a glove compartment

God is not trapped anywhere

God waits on freedom,

Actually

God is in the well

And above the spaceship nosecone

 

Maybe there is laughter

Maybe there are tears

Maybe there is anger

There is always justice

With a willingness to heal

God’s is there

 

Breastplate-thinking’s right

Insofar as

God is there

And for our times,

Is God inside the germ?

Yes, even there

Somehow, lovingly

Inside the germ

Not to say that plagues,

Crusades,

Other eradications

Are God’s will

For I don’t think they are

Certainly not God’s pleasure

But where there might be comfort

In the presence

In anything inimical

Deep or shallow,

Yes, there is God

For Earth

For us

 

C L Couch

 

 

(from) The Breastplate of Saint Patrick

Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I arise,

. . .

0

Liebster Award

Liebster Award

 

https://doctorhqconfessions.wordpress.com/2020/04/30/liebster-award/

Helen Qin, the doctor-to-be, has nominated me for the Liebster Award—Thank you!

Her terrific blog is here:

https://doctorhqconfessions.wordpress.com/author/doctorhq/

 

My 11 Questions [Helen’s questions for me]:

  1. What piece of writing are you the most proud of?—I like the shorter works I’ve done, such as this one from the other day (below):*
  2. How long does it take for a post to go from an idea to fruition?—I try to write and post each day; so far, illness is the main that prevents me.  I sit before the screen each morning with coffee (tea lately) and a piece of bread (toast, croissant, what have you).  I usually write several things, pick one thing to go over more, then decide to post it.  I look for an image.  I go to WordPress, work on the posting, then send it.  Typically, this takes a few hours.
  3. What has been your most enjoyable new hobby during this lockdown?—I’ve been taking drives to nowhere though ostensibly to the grocery store.  I have masks now, thanks to friends, so can get out when I want to, walk around a little.  It’s not a new hobby, but I’ve seen more winding roads and many things along the way these days.  Oh, and I’m trying to learn Zoom.
  4. If you could go somewhere for a week, all expenses paid and you could do whatever you wanted, where would you go? —I’d like to go to Midland England for a while.  experience something of village life.  Maybe a day for London and the British Museum, maybe a day for Oxbridge.
  5. What’s one thing you wish you were better at?—I wish I could lift and carry things again.  Because of heart disease, I can’t.
  6. What language would you like to learn and perfect if given the opportunity?—French, I think.
  7. What’s an irrational fear you have?—I have claustrophobia.  Bothers me to mention it.
  8. What’s something you might be embarrassed or self-conscious about, but you know you shouldn’t be?—I have many scars from surgeries.  I’m thankful for the results of the operations, so I shouldn’t be embarrassed by the marks.
  9. What food are you craving the most right now?—Dark chocolate with almonds.  But I have some here.  Now if I could have dark chocolate with almonds and raisins.
  10. What’s your best party trick?—I’m good at word games and some trivia contests.
  11. What brings you the most joy in life?—Happy endings.

 

11 Facts About Me

  1. I’m left-handed.
  2. I’m from the South (of the USA).
  3. I’m the middle child (of five).
  4. I have bad-handwriting/writer’s cramp and so am thankful for the computer.
  5. I had lunch with Mister Rogers, dinner with Vincent Price (not on the same day).
  6. I was the first male chapter president of an all-female honorary society (Mortar Board).
  7. I’m adept with USA and (or) British grammar.
  8. I’m a good speller though tend to leave words out instead, such as “no” or “never” (hopefully to catch in time).
  9. I enjoy reading contemporary literature more by women than by men.
  10. I like meeting people who don’t look like me.
  11. I read slowly, awkwardly.

 

(General) Rules to the Liebster Blogger awards:

  1. Thank the blogger who nominated you and give a link to the blog.
  2. Answer the 11 questions given to you
  3. Share 11 facts about yourself
  4. Nominate between 5-11 other bloggers
  5. Ask your nominees 11 questions
  6. Notify your nominees once you’ve uploaded your post

 

I know some correspondents have been nominated before (not that they couldn’t be nominated again).  Here are my nominees: A Reading Writer, MandiBelle, Cathy (wander.essence), Nelkumi,  PaperKutz.

https://wanderessence.com/

https://paperkutzs.com/

https://nelkumi.wordpress.com

https://wordsthatcant.wordpress.com/

https://areadingwritr.wordpress.com/

 

you are not obliged

questions from me, if you do oblige (I swiped a couple from Helen Q)

  1. How are you?
  2. Do you have a favorite author?
  3. Do you have a favorite kind of writing to write?
  4. What do you miss in lockdown?
  5. What have you learned in lockdown?
  6. Do you have a favorite time of year?
  7. Have you ever had a mentor—who? (whom?)
  8. What is a treat for you in life (to eat, to share, otherwise to do)?
  9. Do you tend to write in one space—which?
  10. How do you prepare a blog-post?
  11. What is one thing (among many things) you plan to do once the current virus crisis has passed?

 

*

Around

 

You should have a good day

You deserve it

If it’s not today,

Keep it

In your pocket

Or your bag

Then pick a day

To bring out when you need it

Saying to yourself,

This is a good day for me

And there should be enough

For someone else

Share it

If only a wish

For that one to have

A good day, too

 

Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash

everyone deserves a prize

 

2

Worship

Worship

 

Worship must have been

Brutal, then

Fierce dancing to fierce rhythm

All sorts of things prepared

To sacrifice to God

Where the divine had any interest

In such rites

(how did they know?)

Ready to let blood

Human wine

For penance and redemption

In the world where crops were

Eradicated too easily

Enemies banded ‘round to take out

Any towns or collections of

Humanity trying to set along

The river’s edge or in the center of

Even a place of hiding

Too easily exposed

 

Or maybe it was grand

A city on a hill

Still the gods need something of us

To turn attention there

To give us weather

Or health enough

To go another year

 

No notion of indifference

A neatly civilized invention

The worship here

Must match

Barbaric nature with the

Barbaric parts of us

There was awful authenticity

Because the only choice

Was awe

This was a fearful task

Reaching a god

To know its name

To know what it wants

Or left to guessing the rituals

Demanded in a world of

Circling barbarity

With no neat form, no room for

Showing up

Life was on the line

To hope in every baleful way

That God might answer

 

We don’t want it back

Why should we?

Though we’ve lost the awe

In awesome,

The part that means to fear the Lord

Not as in scared

(though that)

But in respect that God is there

Might be set over a scale

Might be listening

Not for what’s refined

Something that’s raw

As from the scoured human heart

The table might be symbol

But inside, where the marks are

God can reside

Wildly there

 

So what do we do

At evening or at sunrise?

Or when we feel we’ve wakened up

Enough?

We can find God

Too easily

Before we’re ready

We might have a sibling conflict

Or no notion of our Sunday best

God will take us on

Together, one by one

Maybe not fierce worship

But something honest

Tears rather than

Blood

Focus rather than rage

Though through it all, whatever,

Love as well as fear

For God is God

Not wanting us to quake

Perhaps

But recalling first obedience

Afterward, attending

To the second

 

Have worship, then

Leave afterward

Taking something of the altar

With you

Like a burning coal set inside

Something that will never burn

Away,

The part of God that’s present

Not without expectation

Not always well-behaved

But always loved

 

Come back to me

Come back again

I am with you now

 

C L Couch

 

 

Photo by Paweł Czerwiński on Unsplash

 

4

Around

Around

 

You should have a good day

You deserve it

If it’s not today,

Keep it

In your pocket

Or your bag

Then pick a day

To bring out when you need it

Saying to yourself,

This is a good day for me

And there should be enough

For someone else

Share it

If only a wish

For that one to have

A good day, too

 

C L Couch

 

 

Image by Miguel Á. Padriñán from Pixabay

 

3

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