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El Día

(x = space)

x

x

El Día

x

All Souls Day

El Día de los Muertos

Day of the Dead

And abuelo

Grandfather says:

x

Gracias

Thank you

Niños

(all are children)

For the picnic

With the treats of sugar

(we like sugar)

While the veil

Is at its filmiest

x

As it was last year

You won’t see me

Hear me

Soon

But I shall be there

In the moments that you need

The most

x

What can I do

But you should know

That you are

Not alone

No

Never

x

Except

Claro

Of course

When you want to be

Or should be

x

Adiós

Good-bye for now

Go with God

El Dios

Each

And all

x

C L Couch

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Photo by Zahra Amiri on Unsplash

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Flesh and Plastic

(x = space)

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poem plus a verse nodding to tomorrow

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Flesh and Plastic

(having heard about the current cancer rates)

x

How do we poison

Ourselves

How do the cancer rates

Increase

I looked outside

Through polluted air

While inside

My mother fought for life

Or couldn’t fight

When the disease

Or medications

Were too much

x

And I couldn’t help

But wonder

Do we do this to each other

Change condensation nuclei

From dirt

To chemical compounds

And so our snow in winter

Raindrops

All year ‘round

x

We poison up our food

The animals

And plants might have it

Too

With all the Earth

We used to praise

And respect

If only scenery

For action

x

And now maybe

The Earth talks back

To say

You could once blame us

For our parts

In quakes and floods

Eruptions

But as you do

What you do

To yourselves

With how you build

And how you bury

How you live

We must share the blame

For a plastic planet

Made of chemicals

That do not make the cycle

Of planting

And fruition

But poison everything

Removing what is natural

(what is ours)

From the seasons

x

From what is natural

For life

The life that we would have for you

Even with quakes

And flooding

Eruptions

The harsher liturgy

We provide

With all the living

Rather

Life

x

The God whom we report to

Might be sad

Might be angry

Might be waiting

As with faith

For you to get it

Change

While polluted soil

And water

Air

We keep waiting as we can

For change

For better boxing

As discretion

To let the poison

Be mistakes that mar

Rather than

Daily living

x

For now we take

The poisons as we can

While expecting

Your human race to change

Before the earthline

Fails

And falls

Before the fire consumes

Where then

Would you go

x

We wait

God waits

So change

Already

x

C L Couch

x

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Photo by Brian Yurasits on Unsplash

Plastic bottle floats in water. Plastic pollution is a problem that every single person on earth can relate to. Single-use plastics are being found at every corner of our natural world, and it’s a problem that each of us can help to solve. Follow on Instagram @wildlife_by_yuri, and find more free plastic pollution photos at: https://www.wildlifebyyuri.com/free-ocean-photography

planet earth

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Introit to All Souls

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November two

All Souls

Yesterday to celebrate

The living church

Now to remember

Reconnoiter with

The church that has gone on

Some of which

That stays behind

To watch

To receive prayers

x

CLC

x

1

two offerings, second poem for Hallowe’en

(x = space)

x

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two offerings, second poem for Hallowe’en

x

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Amnesiacal

x

It’s funny

How willing

I am

To start a new day

As if in part

I’m starting over

And I take the day well

The dawning

The rising

Making coffee

With whatever

Or nothing else

(cold water)

And the world comes in

In not so welcome ways

And I am here

Again

Struggling

With everything

Appreciating

Too

Some better things

And will the day progress

Or step back

Will the pains prevail

Or hope

I’ll be ahead somehow

By evening

x

x

(Not Unlike) The War of the Worlds

x

for Hallowe’en

x

I don’t know

Have a pleasant day

And night

If in costume

Moving through the chilly air

Or swiping

The candy from the bowl

While warm inside

x

And if you don’t play

Don’t worry

You don’t have to

By conviction

Or convenience

There is no requirement

Keep the porch light

Off

x

And as for Devil’s Night

Or Mischief Night

That’s why the costumes

And the candy

Were invented

In this culture

Maybe yours

While the mischief

And the devil

They are petty crimes

With which

You should not have to deal

x

Enjoy the day

And night

By watching scary movies

Not too gross

And with a story

That might interest

x

Have some fun

If you will

Within the borders

Of what’s fun

Even

Many children know

That the childish fear

Today

Tonight

Is fun

x

x

C L Couch

x

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Photo by Jarrod Reed on Unsplash

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1

The Haunted Spaceship

(x = space)

x

x

this was written to a prompt, requesting that we each write a flash horror story; I chose science fiction and verse

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The Haunted Spaceship

x

How did it happen

Everything so new

It shone until it didn’t

Dials webbed over

Levers tarred

Footsteps on the ladders

No one there

A crew long dead

Remains reduced

To bones and ashes

What had happened

Smiles into cameras

Perfect launch

More smiles

Funding possibilities

Enhanced

First step into space

This far

To chase the satellites

That sang of Earth

Sending the best images

Of us

x

So far away

Holo-communications

Brought them near

And we were glad to see them

The balanced crew

Representative

Diverse

And curious

Standing for nations newly

Treated into harmony

The fates of nations

Then

Riding along

x

Voyager 9 had sent

A message as a surrogate

That said

Basically

Y’all come

X-y-z coordinates were sent

Along with certain helps

To make the journey

Doable and done

And so went

All Earth along

x

And now a year or so

Into it

Passing a dark star in

Every way

Not foreseen

And then they started dying

Believing they were haunted

First

The ghosts in the machines

Entrails in food

Eyeballs in coffee

Someone did the research

On how to frighten Earthers

Locked in a ship

Passing through outer space

So far between worlds

x

The air grew thin

According to the meters

Hallucinations thus enhanced

Even if they knew

They drew within themselves

And then took to each other

Unlocked weapons

Made their own

Attacked with nails

So well-manicured

Pretending claws

x

The last two killed each other

There was no final message

The sun poured in

With unseen rays

Into chambers unadjusting

Atomizing everything

Except the ship

Become like consequences

Used to say

Of the breeder bomb

x

A resource now

The Everest now rests

A peak in space

Of our adventure

It waits

Someone will come

From either place

Who knows

Or doesn’t know

What happened

And what happens now

x

C L Couch

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Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

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Triduum-ish

(x= space)

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Triduum-ish

x

let’s try it this way

happy trick-or-treating

get chocolate

enjoy night air

and dressing different

as against the veil

ancestors

disguised themselves

as well

x

then enjoy the day

for the saints

the followers of God

who are alive

and acting

faith and charity

all the time

or who must go

in fits and starts

x

then remember

those who are not here

anymore

but as if another veil

draw near to family

so the tradition

goes

with picnics at gravesites

brightly lit for now

while there are conversations

with the dead

in gratitude

for the proximity

x

a kind of triduum

that is

three special days

nothing incumbent or required

(priests would differ)

except that

we should enjoy

we should take part

we should remember

and also

(you know this)

show up in church

or synagogue

or temple

or mosque

or center

some place holy

every now and then

x

boo

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Cortor Media on Unsplash

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Unthinkable Think Think Unthinkable

(x = space)

x

x

Unthinkable Think Think Unthinkable

x

God help Lewiston

And Israel

And Ukraine

(and more

always more)

Settings for

What we’d like to think

Unthinkable

x

I care about

Don’t care about

The sides

I care about the living

Suffering

About the dead who died

Suffering

x

About the living

Who remain

To bend

In mourning

And those who rise

In fear

x

There is anger

War is angry

I imagine

Shooting someone else

Is angry

x

Anger the mask

For fear

Fear the mask

For sin

Maybe we could sin less

With our devices

And machines

Pick up each other

Donate

Through the screens

And if on site

Somehow

Watch out for each other

Get physically involved

(and also hide

when needed)

to hide)

Which can be dangerous

I know

Though everything

Might be endangered

Now

Or anytime

We do more

To resist the devil

Having released itself

Out of hell

Upon our world

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Napendra Singh on Unsplash

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Maggs

(x = space)

x

x

Maggs

x

Yesterday or recently

(depending on

the rate

at which cop blotters’

notes move on

to general news)

A boy

Who was 7

On a scooter

(child’s fit)

Treading the thing next

To his mother

Was hit by a truck

An NYPD

Tow truck

The driver on his cell phone

When it happened

x

This could be the news

Of the day

If we wanted things

This way

Then move on to pestilence

To wider crimes

To war

x

(sequel)

x

Is there more to say today

Beyond small tragedies

Small hopes

Perhaps

What happens if

Remediation

Anyone who seated at

Any round table

x

Good news

That’s strong and wide

And numerous

Throughout the world

We would talk about these

Too

x

(d.s. al coda)

x

There has to be the larger news

As well

That’s normal

Becoming all the media

In circles

I mean cycles

To see and hear

x

But sometimes

We keep it small

A fire here

Some thieving there

Small

Local tragedies

With ads surrounding

x

Maybe a fundraiser

For a smaller while

Highlighting

Human need

Addressed

x

It’s a mishmash

And

Yes

The larger

Overwhelms the smaller

(the whale that subsumes

the krill)

We might say

The way of the world

And who sets that way

The Earth

God

Or us

Or even us as

God’s

Program directors

x

Well

Signing off

Let’s find out

How things might be arranged

To settle heart and head

Into priorities

Of one day to the next

x

(now d.c.)

x

We must do the things

To do

Address the wicked

Heal the wounded

And remember

x

Remember Lewiston

Tree of Life

Parkland

Columbine

x

Elevate each spirit

In our minds

That has already gone to God

While our ongoing care

And remembrance

Go on

Here

x

And do we learn

Do we get better

Fuller

Sometimes

Sometimes it takes a trend

Some public outrage

Sometimes

Some public mourning

x

We can change

We can grow

What is the main thing

What are

Side things

Which is first

Then second

In our lives

x

How do we moralize

With wisdom

Restraint

Humbly working it out

As if about

To kneel

Before a divine

Committee

That keeps knocking

That keeps asking

x

(30)

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Mike Hindle on Unsplash

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I Should Get God

(x = space)

x

x

I Should Get God

x

I should finish

For the day

Though I haven’t thought of God

Frankly

Enough

Even in everything

Thought

Reason

Let those serve

Better than roted doctrine

But through holy words

Inside

x

For there

(sometimes in the world)

God is there

I know

Existence not incumbent

On my knowing

x

It is a choice

Not to exist

But to believe

x

I talk throughout the day

To someone there

Who is not

(if I were crazed)

A Roosevelt

Or Fred Gwynne as an angel

x

Though I like Fred Gwynne

An angel

(you may look it up)

And so think of his portrayal

As an angel

Telling stories

In a deep voice

Given to

A sonorous performance

x

That’s my suburban way

Real angels are magnificent

And frightening

Reflecting awful

As in awe

In aspect

In deserved

(for being)

In response

To God

x

But we talk

Maybe-angel

And I

And I am nudged

Throughout the day

For choices

To consider

And which work out

(tend to)

If I listen

x

Presence

Like a present

(pun)

For grace is free

Salvation won already

A door that works

Like a door

Except

Without a door knob

x

We are inside

There is a knock

We know who it is

And only with a latch

Only on our side

And shall we open

And invite

The one we know

If only heard of

Now and then

x

And it is Jesus

Even as a stranger

Exudes the promise

Though we may leave outside

The person

And the invitation

We are allowed

x

Existence doesn’t change

So much

But our will

Is changeable

As it is viable

x

We truly make the difference

In this meeting

Thinking head

Incising heart

Maybe a hopeful spirit

With yes

Well

There is God

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Katia Rolon on Unsplash

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if Icarus had reined in the glory just a little

(x = space)

x

x

if Icarus had reined in the glory just a little

(and how could he)

x

low above the ground

I think I could handle that

x

maybe that’s how

I fly in dreams

x

which hasn’t happened

for a while

x

I used to feel the muscles

just inside my shoulder blades

x

for wings extending

two times out

x

like birds

and then I’d rise

x

from the backyard

or wherever

x

feel the strain

muscles thrumming silently

x

inside

over rooftops

x

of the neighbor homes

I’d know

x

the dreams ending with the rising

and a little more

x

a promise

I suppose

x

that flight is good

and I should rise a little higher

x

next time

I don’t know

x

it is understandable

to glory in the moment

x

then go for more

moments and glory in this

x

can youth

or anyone with freedom

x

in the sky

not want more

x

want to go on

get closer to the source

x

yet we are reined in

by expectations

x

and the limits

of our vehicles

x

someday we might have wings

that aren’t restrained

x

by metal

or by sun

x

which is why we dream

perhaps

x

design on paper

in the morning

x

or the evening

just before retiring

x

to set ourselves

maybe

x

to dream some more

over rooftops

x

over planets

in alliance

x

with the sun

this time

x

we awake

to design

x

and make

with nature

x

our impulses

to be free

x

beyond the confines

of ourselves

x

as it is

(and shall be)

x

negotiating mortal

with immortal

x

our vision

(not the looking)

x

for our sustenance

of spirit

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by History in HD on Unsplash

Originally from the Library of Congress, this AI recoloured photograph depicts early aviator Steve MacGordon circa 1915 in the cockpit of a biplane shortly before his death. MacGordon was one of the earliest pioneers in aviation and held many of the inaugural records in flight.

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