beginnings
church seasons
Sunday after
Easter
it will be Easter now
Easter season
for a while
up to Pentecost
the appearance of the Holy Spirit
in
fire and languages
and often thought of
as
a birthdate
for the church
from
then on
there were martyrs
also miracles
and formations
and also
debates
fighting over Antioch
or Jerusalem
and whether or not
to let the Gentiles
in
there would be conversions
teaching
sometimes with warnings
and final prophecies
to warn us
yes
more so
to encourage us
and love us with
hope
there is discipline
and code
baptisms
dedications
confirmation
the faith
begins
for good or ill
for good and ill
the Christian church
belief is risk
it always
has
a countercultural
element
choose
to be comfortable
to wear a mask
to believe
and act
and take a chance
c l couch
originally, the poem was not in triplets; but as I looked at what was the last stanza (six lines), I realized that it could and maybe should be made two stanzas of three lines each; then I went back (up) to revise the rest accordingly; I had one line at the top, remaining; I added in what was the title and subtitle to make the first stanza of three lines, then added a new title; sometimes the form comes first; this time it was more or less last
photo by Greg Rosenke on Unsplash
(x = space)
x
x
Genesism
x
We were thrown out:
Don’t blame Eve,
I don’t;
The serpent could have
Just as easily
Caught Adam first
And both fall
After choosing to take bites
x
And if you believe
The woman had such power,
Go ahead—I
Wouldn’t stop you
x
Did they see the angel,
Looking back?
The orange or the yellow
Of a blade on fire?
Feel the heat?
Did they know for sure
They must go another way,
Not to return
For ages?
x
Well, they were given
Clothing,
They were given curses
Also callings,
They knew what they’d have to do
To live;
And so with their descendants,
So with us,
The myth goes on
For hunters and for music;
We build a tower
To do better than the curses
x
The tower falls;
We cannot speak to each other,
Anymore
x
So we build in separation;
Cities rise
And as must follow
Empire:
Strong people rule somehow
And we let their children rule
x
Was it worship
Or respect
Or indifference?
We had our farms to tend;
Soon there would be machines
x
We raised walls
To keep ourselves upon the plains,
Set outposts in the mountains,
Surrounded waterways,
x
And with food
And bright blades
Secured the promises
Of generations
x
Nation went to war
Against nations;
Many gods were worshipped,
Some directed
x
We have stone
And paper manuscripts
And ruins upon ruins
That are testimonies
x
And are we rising?
We hope so;
There are awful, lateral movements
And descensions—call
Them massacres,
Call slavery,
Call rule by one
With only one served,
One living well
x
Democracy is rising;
Call it something else;
We keep at it
x
How about
Soon we grow
Without anything but growth?
x
After-Eden flaws remain;
Maybe we’ll understand at last
Divinities approving
Of mortality,
Mortal accountancy
In meeting needs,
Accountability,
Repentance,
And renewal
x
Rockets go toward the moon,
Soon with people
Who will stay awhile
While we aim for Mars,
Send rockets to the rest;
We hope the Voyagers
Will find friends
x
We’re not perfect,
We’re not even better
x
If we keep our flaws,
And we own mortality
Then we’ll do all right
For legacy:
The joy in now
x
C L Couch
x
x
Water, Light, and Long Shutter Speeds
Photo by Ahmad Dirini on Unsplash
x
clcouch123 
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