clcouch123

a gift

after all
maybe before
could be ribboned
doesn’t
have to be
I think we know
the gift that isn’t easy
that
goes with the giver
while somehow the giver
and the giving
go on
with the one receiving
feeling
grace
because it’s there
to think
and keep
to let it
renew

and I think we know the gift
that might come after
or before
that each one gives
and
by receiving
(with
apologies
to ravens)
there should be
an
evermore

c l couch

photograph by lesha tuman at Unsplash

God loves change and what remains

and what of God
today
but that God is God
eternal
and unchanging
except in changing
too
since dynamic
as dynamic
seems to be a part of nearly
everything
except
a constant will
and not
to mention perfect love

so we could accept the changes
though we might
have
favorite seasons

c l couch

photo by Venti Views at Unsplash

with those who go for peace this or any day

the afternoon is leaning
as we have this day
to mark
the birth of Jesus
Joshua
who saves

and we have holly
I’m not sure about the ivy
bulbs on trees
of
various materials
that among things
challenge
cats

we have presents out of boxes
or assembled
of a shape that
takes
a ribbon only

and we’ll have special food
that might go heavy
or
go light
so many cuisines practiced

and we could have thoughts for those
without
and go take care of them
or us
depending on our place
and situation

a secular or sacred
day
or how many traditions are expressed
as they are lived
and on this day perhaps
strange
harmony

to be believed
and shared

and those in trenches
of all kinds
though not unlike
1914
could have the adversaries join

or to face reality
we launch from afar
or
that sometimes the trenched place
is a city street
or division
in one
literal family

and then the metaphor
of family
as all of us who are the world
and how we fight
or
have peace
might be affected by a day
more
or less if happily
imposed

and I guess I’ve said
let the true test
go tomorrow
not
by angels though they referee
or act as ancient chorus
but
in the waking light
of culture’s normal day

could fight less
and make
peace
more not because the time of year
says so
but
in a timeless important day
we
say so

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I think maybe I repeat myself from yesterday—oh, well, eve and now the day—and Merry Christmas with wishes for each a special day!

photo by Ice Angel on Unsplash


how to have Christmas day

I don’t know how you’ll feel
about Christmas
you could be anywhere
your
people and tradition could be
any

and of value and
distinction
for having been made and now alive
on Earth by God
and by yourselves and for
you own

and if yours isn’t Christmas
you might
appreciate the sales
and on the way
attractive and in plaes extraordinary
arrangements of lights
for
the season

you might not be drawn
to those taking Christmas into politics
as
part of a campaign
to manipulate supremacy
a domination as an attitude
a strategy
to win

you may get
or have to live the irony
of the call of Muezzin over all the
lights and music
of
the Christian style

or where these are are small
you might enjoy
the paradox
of harmony

and similar traditions
calling
worship
and remembering that are not Christian
but noble
and valid as services
pursuits of God
and
at this time of year the overwhelming
might
be overwhelming

so maybe we could all
take on
humility
that ever newborn child possesses

restrain
in fact
if by amazement
our aggressions
and our violence
and notions of who’s best and
who
belongs
and who gets to survive

and let us all
regard us all
as worthy of the Lord
and
each other

whoever might be God today
the name
the following

and if we respect
and someday meet at a table
maybe
we’ll keep the harmony
the unity
with all the parts of who we are
and who you are
together

and that’s all
and wish for a happy Christmas day
where
that’s possible
aiming toward a better one
next
time if need be
and we could check on each other
for
tomorrow

not because it’s Boxing Day
but
because it’s any day
of those in traditions
and those owning
none
to love
each other

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photo by Matthew on Unsplash

once born

and now we must
go to Egypt
for
a while
or forever should the Lord decide

mountains
vales
and
deserts of empire ancient
than the one the called us to the father’s
home in Bethlehem
in
time for this holy birth

though isn’t any baby’s birth
a holy time

go-to of other nations when famine
was famous
our ancestors
certainly
the survival and the sanctity of tribes
to
have a people with what
became a wicked past
and then
a hopeful future

and what shall we see there
and hear
and smell and all our senses know
along the Nile over
the land
and in alien cities there
which
of course are theirs for
home
while we are the refugees

and God knows what we’ll have
of home again

if
dreams and miracles
the rumors of war
shall drive
us

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6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.
Matthew 24:6-8
(NIV)

photo by ian borg on Unsplash

ninth day

we have completed Hanukkah
we prayed
we sung
we sung our prayers
while
gifting more light
to Earth
to match our own delivered
through a miracle

we dined
we played
we
lived in gifts by the divine
while
(or in)
gifting each other

and
no
that is not everything
and as must return
to the rest

nonetheless added to
or changed by
reminding
of the greatest good
that life
comingling Earth and pardoned
paradise
allow

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(an offering inspired and I hope not insensitive or simply wrong)

photograph by Levi Meir Clancy at Unsplash

radiating

on their way to Bethlehem
liturgically

the two
and nearly three

magi farther
off
according to prediction’s navigating

shepherds waiting
and the elf on the shelf

so many things
so many qualities
combine

anticipating majesty and bringing
along our silly
notions

and our gifts like cherries or a lamb
or
all of us
acknowledging
respecting
changing

by one event
this one event
the search for accommodation
which
might be the easy part
with
facing all the labor

then
all the labor

then the one
and three
and more
so many more
attending
until everyone on Earth
and ringing out from
heaven
should know

announce
transform in a new season like
a planet
going another way

c l couch

(examples of gifts recalling The Second Shepherds’ Play)

photograph by Pascal Debrunner at Unsplash