bitter
the herbs of Passover
or what
sin-eaters eat
when it’s more than salt
with bread
though
salt is pretty bitter
on its own
and then there’s the attitude toward
life
after
disappointment
even within
unscaled perspective
we don’t get what we want
so life is
bad
it’s wrong
it’s bitter
although what we may want is exactly
what is needed
so maybe what we want’s
the issue
what
for whom
and how
nothing new in this
in that
life goes this way or that
becomes
quite trite
in fact
(and pardon rhymes at
times)
and still we want life
I want mine
you should want yours
so hang on through
the bitter
please
self-determined or pushed
maybe dropped
on
heavily
by the world
there’s more
and it could be challenging
maybe with
a way to see
to bear
the bitter
and-or
who knows
a time in life
(life time)
could turn sweet
if
and most likely not
forever
yet
which is why we have and own the term
for terms
the times
the joined word that is
the lively paradox
of
bittersweet
c l couch
photo by freestocks on Unsplash
Gall
Oh
I feel bitter
And there is no sense in it
Because
There is no end
But more
And gall
Who wants
To drink that
Anyway
Drink fit for a cross
It seems
And only when a savior
Suffers there
Who can’t be receiving
Anything approvable
Anything
With savor
Lest
It’s awful
And I can’t
Go that far
You know I can’t
Because there’s only one
Who could
And that is done
And there is
Triumph now
And it’s not
The bitter kind
But is for friendship
From a god
To the rest of us
Done
For companionship
In fact
So heaven won’t be lonely
Anymore
And so where is gall
It isn’t mine
Even though the world
Tries to recreate
The vintage
From blood violently spilled
And from
More corruption
And yet
It stands there
Wasted
On the ground
No need for the symbol
Except to be reminded
(that can be done
with two dimensions
only)
Anymore
C L Couch
Photo by James Garman on Unsplash
(x = space)
x
x
Reverie on How Things Taste
x
The sweet
Should have the bitter
x
I know you are a villain, Iago
Now
Too late
x
The bitter
Should have sweet
x
It is a way to live
To know the world
As is
And a little
How it should be
x
There is a flower
Or an herb,
I think,
Or both
x
If so,
A wise bloom
And spice
Inviting us
To savor
How things are
And a little
How they should be
x
The plants
That have blossoms
And have thorns
They are wise
And sad
They speak
They sing
To peril
x
Had Christ had a few flowers
On the crown
Pressed on his head
The beauty
Would not have changed
The agony
And we might wonder
Were a parody
Of beauty
Pressed on his head
Not only
Majesty
A jeering of
An earthly diadem
x
We need both
Because the world
Is both
And we should navigate
Understanding
That the bitter and the sweet
Are out there
And often
Come together
As the savor
Of the world
x
That we cannot pull apart
Not here
Not now
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Robin Lyon on Unsplash
Bittersweet in Winter
x
Bread and Stone
All that’s left
Is the heel of the
Rye bread loaf
And a small pile of
Caraway seeds
(Inside) made
When I lift
The bag
Bread and bitter herbs
I could be
A Celtic sin-eater
A job from long ago
In smaller, well-defined
Communities—and
For their sake
The task has left us,
While the cause
For eating and then
Running out the
One fed
Remains
Bitterness
Of sin—perhaps
Given the time
And hard hearts—
We
Should tear off
A bit of bread
To take with
Zealous spice
clcouch123 
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