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
church time December 7
moonlight was used
against
its use
as there was preparation
near
sunlight
to betray as well
on
early Sunday morning
when order
and white uniforms
were torn
apart
and life a tissue by attack
and
everything exploded
while ripped-up men and women
with
children close by
tried to shoot back and
also
run
to stations
and to homes
the attack upon our useful soil
and beautiful
while
we thought
to live there and none
should
bother us by might
and
arrangement
and yet
and yet
empire and
democracy
too much to reconcile
too
divergent for our values
so we fought
with destruction
as the theme and total
the result
so
the agenda
and the strategy
the chaos of attacking
on all
sides
and so the President and Congress
said
this is officially declared
and so to the west
and east
and so many points on Earth
to
call the war
world
second Sunday in Advent
when
the candle’s lit for
peace
and on that Sunday
eighty-four
years the count
the awful
lively
living and the dying there
and then
and how might all politics and factions
reconcile
only
by tragedy
and where there is alliance
or
appreciation
now
new fronts are drawn
between
within
and these days
the radical
it seems
to keep value in the sacrifice
done
and remembered
and to apply
as we tend to think in reverse
reminding
and if owning
of
the greatest sacrifice
become
the saving doctrine
remembered by the seasons
then
and now
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photo by Graddes on Unsplash
275
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
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photo by MJ Tangonan on Unsplash
Chimney Rock, North Carolina
(my family tells me Chimney Rock the town’s no longer there)
the aftering
I know other things
have happened
in what for us was nighttime
under the glare of sunlight
over there
or
yes
under cover here
save for stars and moon
new things
and then
as well
perpetuation of the old
ongoing
without ceasing
all the bad things
overwhelming
so it seems
when will it end
and what shape
is the terminus
will we know it
when we get there
there
a block for worry while
we bury devastation
and then
what happens
next
to stay
and who has the energy
remaining
to rebuild
and what about the funds
required
and sustenance to keep us going
in the meantime
and meanwhile
and plus
should anything resurge
disease
or battle
or the fire
and typically
tragically
the quake
what shall the aftereffects
do to us
the trauma now
impeding
any hope of progress
of ongoing life
that is
leaping over crises
and catastrophes
to resume
and now
resume again
heaven help us
and we might ask about
the first
time
where were you
and
yes
we must say
we’ll even plead
come here now
some sort of
Immanuel
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photo by Museums Victoria on Unsplash
(x = space)
x
x
Going Outside on My Own after Hospital
x
Today there is a fair
Happening down the street
I could go out
To see it, hear it, taste it
Certainly to smell it
Shall I go?
x
A Prufrockian kind
Of consideration
Except I’ve been in hospital
(as the English say
without an article)
And I’m still sore
And I’m tired
And I don’t know if the twinges
I feel
Mean something
x
The cool of the morning
Now would be
The time to go
x
x
C L Couch
x
Photo by Sandra Seitamaa on Unsplash
x
(x = space)
x
x
Honestly
x
O God
You are so good
I say this when the sun is out
Will I say it
In the storm
When I am losing everything I’ve had
Maybe a person
x
While my people are shattered
Or even when the sun
Comes out
After
x
I won’t believe the sun
May I believe you
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Wes Hicks on Unsplash
x
(x = space)
x
x
Robb Elementary School, After
x
Irony of welcome
We know this
You are welcome now
Not your guns
Not your murderous intent
You may have a troubled mind
And still come in
There are counselors
In school and life
But really you should come here
For a reason
That not only fits the mission
But also the constituency
x
Parents of our learners
Patrons of
Our special programs
Library volunteers
Or other signed-up, cleared
Helpers
We want our school
To be good
We want to welcome you
Bienvenidos
x
C L Couch
x
Outside, underneath the name Robb Elementary School, there is a greeting, Bienvenidos. Welcome to our school.
x
x
Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash
x
(x = space)
x
x
The Second Day
x
The day
After resurrection
Jesus appears to many
There is work to do
After the great miracle,
It seems
Affirming what Mary
Has said
Showing marks of wounds
To Thomas
Teaching, still
Cooking fish beside a fire
Talking about metaphors
Of sheep
Hoping Peter understands
Then after many days
Of words and signs
A leavetaking
Leaving instructions
Until he should come back
Having left a promise, too,
Of help
Like his
In fact, him still
This person will indwell
Like blood, like bone,
Like organs
Like thoughts and feelings
That’s pretty close
Inside
A guide
Someone to speak to worth
A presence, bearing
Through the times
Of pleasure and of pain
The ease of life
The things we never think
To get through
x
It’s a busy time
After Easter Day
There will be letters
Words
Greetings, admonishments
Compassion
Affirming of directions
These all will last
In the book through Revelation
Until, in fact,
Parousia
And the obvious way to do it
Spirit inside, outside
All partners now
Treading the new fields
Of new Earth
x
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x
x
Interested Bunny waiting for food.
photo by Stefan Fluck on Unsplash
x
(x = space)
x
x
After Something
x
Catharsis is so healthy,
Isn’t it?
I mean leaning back
Something to sip at hand
Maybe a book one has meant
To return to
x
It must follow crisis
That’s too bad
Maybe in between
There was a celebration,
Maybe not
x
The thing about it all
Means that change is coming
In fact, it’s here
But before
We get directions,
Have the first planning meeting
x
There is this drink
And a few pages
From a book
One meant
To return to
x
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x
x
Photo by Arseny Togulev on Unsplash
x
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