permission to pray on our own
I might not have said of
God
directly
how many pages should be read
and then
recited
for the people
what colors robes
to match the season
or may I say somewhere
dear God
say what is real to me
and
then
amen
however I should say that
given language
dialect
or situation
and between these
will you hear my love
of others
and
respond
accordingly with my knowing or
unknowing
what
or how
c l couch
photo by Roman Melnychuk on Unsplash
Dragobrat, Драгобрат, Zakarpattia Oblast, Ukraine
Making a Manifesto
I’ve been unfaithful
It’s too easy
To look the other way
Or ignore you altogether
With an attitude
And yet
Don’t I say thank you
When the good things happen
And help me
When things are awry
And aren’t you there
And don’t I know that
So maybe
It’s not so bad
I think of you quite often
I think about creation
In a treatise-sort of way
You are more
Than a proposition
An idea
Some kind of certifying
From an argument
Within a forum
You are you
The best
And one who made the best
Even the better parts
In me
And anyone
My friend
Or enemy
Maybe that’s the problem
Too many things being
Inimical
And I have to find my own way
Through
At least inside my head
And for my heart’s vibrations
Reason
And good feeling
I’m afraid both must be
Pursued
And satisfied
And I guess I’d say this
For the inner life
That is then realized
In attitude
Behavior
Anything by way of profession
Of anyone
Still
I could think of you more often
And believe
With a readiness
That is both abstract
And material
Belief and action
In the world
So forgive me
Please
I ask for the thousandth time
Today
(well, maybe a few days)
Help me with my system
Help me
In my actions
Help me to help
For I am not good
In any other way
But to be listening
And ready
Photo by Sigmund on Unsplash
I’ll be gone for a few days. Depending on issues regarding connectivity (good issues, problematic), I might not be here, per se, in that time. If not, then I should be back soon. Thank you. Be good. Be safe.
—Christopher
(x = space)
x
x
Talking and Walking
x
Now talk to God
At last
Waiting
With all respect
Withholding judgment
‘Til we’ve had a word
x
This is right
And this is wrong
And I guess
I knew that
Though not always
The particulars
x
Who can see
All consequences
x
And I have other questions
That I mean
Less rhetorical
x
How do I do it all
How do I bring it home
Really
How do I live free will
And obey things
All together
x
How do I think
And love
How do I formulate
A plan for life
Then wait for its
Dissolution
x
How do I say
This is good
And this is not
When complex understanding
Mixes everything
x
How do I live
In this old world
The human part
That has such hate
And hides its greed
Inside an
Annihilative plan
That is at work
So far from me
With those who have
Stolen the riches
Of the planet
And seek to dupe
All malleable
And thinking people
x
Where is the love
Inside the hate
And how do I live
With both
x
That is
How do I live with who I am
Who I was made
Like everyone
To be
And to be
Well
Me
x
How I live
Lord
I do not know
Too many exits
Or rest stops on the way
They are inviting
Too many paths
It seems
Narrow and wide
And in-between
x
Which way
x
The world is too complex
For the simplicity of love
And faith
Maybe of hope
As well
x
I clang my cymbal
Except I don’t
I live in quiet
Desperation
Sometimes
With the age
Also frustration
Remaking tiny parts
Of my world
To say
That’s better
There is hope for the rest
x
And is there
x
The world made by you
We are in your image
To look like
Dare I ask
To act like you
x
Are our actions
Part of our likeness
In your image
x
We make things
I guess
We destroy them
Too
And you have ordered things
Destroyed
x
Nothing lasts that we make
And is it practice
Then
As in
This all being a rehearsal
For the real show
That is
The real experience
To come
x
I should add question marks
For grammar
Though there are so many
Plus implied
And beyond me
And I think you know
Where are the pauses
Where I do take a breath
Before the next
Thing
That I wonder
You are patient
Except when you’re impatient
x
Well
Maybe love is complex
Too
Or maybe its simplicity
Weaves through the complex
Showing a tapestry
In wisdom
Or in time
Your time
For all to know
x
Who knows
While we live
And wait on Earth
What secrets
You might keep
Or is there a real truth
That you keep none
x
Love and faith and hope
There are precedents
And these might be lasting
One link into another
Through the ages
And tomorrow
And in next moments
After this
Amen
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
x
(x = space)
x
x
amen, amen, amen, amen, amen
(you can sing it)
x
there were good hymns
in church
and a couple that were sleepy
the sermon was terrific
for being true and in style easy
as if we could believe
afterward
and live it through the new week that
all this was meant to serve
amen
x
c l couch
x
x
photo by channel 82 on unsplash
x
(x = space)
x
x
Mille Grazie per Preghiera
x
I feel as if
I should offer
A prayer
To God
For something
x
Gratitude
Confession
Promise or
At least desire
To do better
x
Petition,
Intercession
Plus my own things
x
I’m not sure
How that’s the praise
That’s called for
While it seems
Mostly like complaining
x
Except to say thank you;
Maybe there’s praise
In that
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Wilhelm Gunkel on Unsplash
x
sorry for any Italian language that I broke
x
thank you
x
(x = space)
x
x
Tent Revival
x
God of my thoughts,
You guide me
As I’m open
You fill the vessel
Pour it right
Not that there aren’t miracles
There are
You guide me
When I refuse to guide myself
It is the other side of faith
The pledge we made
A while ago
You can guide the pain that’s there,
Which is good when I am
Overwhelmed
Help me, Lord
I’m tired
I don’t know what I am doing
What a good time
For an angel to intrude
There is pain
You can use it
With the rest of me
All yours
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Should Wang on Unsplash
x
(x = space)
x
x
Amen for Catharsis
x
You came
Dear God
And you were here
You were what I couldn’t see
The voice beneath the noise
Something soft yet muscled
Beneath the brittle strength of
The world
x
I don’t know about the timing
I wasn’t thinking clearly but
Have no doubt
Your arrival
Was perfect
In the way
Every plan from you
Is manifest
x
Now in a time of peace
An hour, the next minute
Maybe a day–this
Side of things
Is too partial
And imperfect
(not like grammar)–
And now I go about
Again (imperfectly)
To try to serve
To try to balance out the wills
Of people
And of nature
With my energy
x
And have I said it simply,
Lord
x
Lord,
Thank you
x
C L Couch
x
x
Part of one of my acrylic paintings.
Photo by Paul Blenkhorn @SensoryArtHouse on Unsplash
x
clcouch123 
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