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we can be
brief
without sound-bites
that are extreme
the other way
while
of course
beyond verbosity
we can punch with words
we can overwhelm instead
or more
with
reason
and with courage
they need such words in
western Carolina
Florida
in western Asis
too
and all the places
that need healing
still
they need work
we know
more than
words
though words will
give the order
as well as
keep us going
how about
few words with
power inside
with which
words invoke power
to work
to expend our better energies
say
we love you
and we’ll help you
meaning
significance
and practicality
and
we’re coming
and we’re there
with
more than wishes
alone
rather with agendas for
health
and maybe peace
upon the land
and in our
minds
and in our
hearts
and in our
souls
too much of you
has perished
lost
too much
and with few words
we’re on our way
with actions
and resources
in hope of nature’s and our own
cessation
of destruction
at least
long enough to heal
and
with God’s help
perhaps
to remain whole
on these parts
our people
of Earth
c l couch
photo by MJ Tangonan on Unsplash
Chimney Rock, North Carolina
(my family tells me Chimney Rock the town’s no longer there)
baruch
Yom Kippur
that I don’t fully understand
but that is happening
now
sunset Friday
to nightfall
Saturday
(which is today)
and this year
no doubt
there will be praying for the closeness
of God
upon the hostages
held by Hamas
and not by the Palestinian people
generally
the day is for repentance
to ask forgiveness of
the Lord
so that we might be restored
and reconciled
but something I’ve been told is that
the day before
Erev Yom Kippur
is a day for asking forgiveness
of each other
we forgive each other
and then
we may ask forgiveness of God
ten days for repentance
actually
between Rosh Hashanah and
now
the Christian doctrinal story
is about
leaving one’s gift before the altar
to go
make up with one’s sibling
(should
there be conflict)
and thus being
truly
prepared
even according to priorities
to go to
present at the altar
to have time
with the Lord
and be open to fullest forgiveness
forgive each other first
then ask
forgiveness of God
I think that’s how the teaching goes
in two traditions
maybe more
I don’t
know
I could be wrong
of course
But might God bless
the devout
on Yom Kippur
and
direct us all toward
reconciliation
c l couch
photo by Jeanne Rouillard on Unsplash
Weekend World
Breathe well
Today
Pause
(this could be sabbath)
Within the chaos
If there’s chaos
Take the weekend
Then
If you are free
For
Our modern invention
Of two days
(so far)
To figure things out
Or
If you may
And you are free
To play
Simply and well
Plus
With time
And will
Might we think about
How small
(small if need be
small is grand)
We might contribute toward
The freedom of our neighbors
Regardless and regardful
Let it be
Because of
In spite of
A good
Time
That is good
That is good
C L Couch
Photo by Mirhashim Bagaliyev on Unsplash
You May Ask Who Are the Storm Gods
Milton passed
Helene passed over
Earlier
Now one
At least
Is turn out
To sea
Where it will accost
As storms do
Ships and islands
There
In their way
We’re only in their way
The hurricane
Tornadoes
Storms are mindless
Believing gods are in there
Might
Be Interesting
We may say
God of the storms
To be figurative
To add to
The personality of God
For our
Relating
Also to make sense in fear and
Hope
That God is intimate with
Nature
And God is
And when God might say
People of the Earth
What are you doing with the planet
Well
I guess we could argue for metaphors
Of us with God
Though
I don’t think
God will go
With that
For the Earth is ours
The human ours
Even
God-given
And the responsibility is ours
Even
Now in aspect
Of storms
We make them worse
And who’s to care
While
We are rescuing
And
Picking up
And mourning
Oh
So much
So much that is
Lost
Afterward
When afterward
Becomes
The now
We can talk on this
And then together
May do
Something for
This Earth
The extraordinary gift
On which
You know
You know
We live
C L Couch
Photo by Don Daskalo on Unsplash
Faith for All
What is the process
Of
Living for the Lord
What does that mean
How does it appear
Inside
To think and feel
Outside
To have evidenced
Or outside
The evidence
The risk of faith
Even
In relationships
We have
And want
To keep
A life
A good one
Peace and joy
Promised
If
With
At best
A para-understanding
Sigh
So much to know
And also
To un-know
Since it must be easy
After all
Thoughtful
But
Accessible
To all
C L Couch
Photo by Omer Salom on Unsplash
Paradise Unfounded
Helene was bad
What’s coming’s worse
Historic
I keep hearing
As in
Worthy of a history
And maybe someday
Someone will write about
The storms
We’ve had
And how we made them
Worse
Because of climate change
Which at last
Maybe we’ll say
Is real
As the ice shelfs melt
And habitation on the coast
Will have to move
Inland
Farther than
We had been thinking
If thinking
At all
Everything we’re using up
We’ll need
More of
And more of
Milton will take
More lives
Away
And things that were alive
Like animals and crops
Fauna and
Flora
Generally
Plus the living spirit
Of the cities
And the towns
Farms
So many places
That had energy
And
Semblances of unity
Now gone
Someone named a hurricane
Whose most famous
Name’s
Sake
Wrote most well-known
Not about regained
But how we
Lost
Anything like
Paradise
C L Couch
“Milton appears headed for Tampa, where the National Hurricane Center is warning of up to 15 feet of storm surge.”
NBC/MSN
a little more than half an hour ago
Photo by Demure Storyteller on Unsplash
Beautiful sunset at Clearwater Beach in Tampa, Florida.
[photographer’s caption]
love is practical
love is practical
it does the dishes
love is practical
it listens and then
knows
what’s really going on
love is practical
it is fair at home
and
in the marketplace
love is practical
it pays the bills
and when it can’t
says so
and tries to repair
love is practical
with it
we shall have peace in the world
with a willingness
to come to the table
drink
eat
negotiate
try to see that everyone
everywhere
may do the same
love is practical
it will save Earth
it will save
you and me
c l couch
photo by Nina Mercado on Unsplash
Sometimes a Celestial View Required
Sometimes it’s as simple
As it’s wonderful
Lord made us
And Lord loves us
It might not seem that way
In hospitals
Especially in cancer wards
Burn wards
Terminal compartments
But there
Is love
It’s in these places
In the prayers
And in the spirits
That are struggling all
Around
Where angels
Set themselves as well
To listen
Watch
And weep
On assignment
Forsaken
Never
By the ones
Remaining
(and that’s most
of them)
On our side
A war in heaven
Wars on Earth
Extant
Allowed
By a God who loves so much
To keep us on our own
Even though there could be
Cosmic automation
And so there are
The sides
The wings of war that
Transitory fly
Sinless disease
Conditions
Damage
And those fighting all around
For health
Finally
For all the foes
Of war
Of what we cause each other
And
Disease
By what happens
For a reason
Or by anyway
Keep going at it
Kid
Keep going for the healing
And all you
With the kid
In the battle
All the battles
On
After
The battlefields
Stay with
Us
Keep us going toward
All the health available
On this
Side
You know
And
Yes
Perfectly
The other
C L Couch
Photo by Bernd 📷 Dittrich on Unsplash
we know they’re there
A Trip to Europa
There might be oceans there
Of water
Fit for life
As we are fit for life
The novel warns us
But we’re going
There
I think some fellow-feeling draws us
As if
We’re all in the ice
Reflections
Of ourselves
Maybe the way
We should have been
The way
That denizens
Might have us
Now
C L Couch
(Europa Clipper)
Photo by NOAA on Unsplash
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