twelve days a season
Christmas to Epiphany
birth of Christ first day
c l couch
photo by Zephir Brush on Unsplash
how to have Christmas day
I don’t know how you’ll feel
about Christmas
you could be anywhere
your
people and tradition could be
any
and of value and
distinction
for having been made and now alive
on Earth by God
and by yourselves and for
you own
and if yours isn’t Christmas
you might
appreciate the sales
and on the way
attractive and in plaes extraordinary
arrangements of lights
for
the season
you might not be drawn
to those taking Christmas into politics
as
part of a campaign
to manipulate supremacy
a domination as an attitude
a strategy
to win
you may get
or have to live the irony
of the call of Muezzin over all the
lights and music
of
the Christian style
or where these are are small
you might enjoy
the paradox
of harmony
and similar traditions
calling
worship
and remembering that are not Christian
but noble
and valid as services
pursuits of God
and
at this time of year the overwhelming
might
be overwhelming
so maybe we could all
take on
humility
that ever newborn child possesses
restrain
in fact
if by amazement
our aggressions
and our violence
and notions of who’s best and
who
belongs
and who gets to survive
and let us all
regard us all
as worthy of the Lord
and
each other
whoever might be God today
the name
the following
and if we respect
and someday meet at a table
maybe
we’ll keep the harmony
the unity
with all the parts of who we are
and who you are
together
and that’s all
and wish for a happy Christmas day
where
that’s possible
aiming toward a better one
next
time if need be
and we could check on each other
for
tomorrow
not because it’s Boxing Day
but
because it’s any day
of those in traditions
and those owning
none
to love
each other
c l couch
photo by Matthew on Unsplash
Tennessee’s Bell Buckle and a child on Christmas day
an
orange
some
walnuts
could be
pecans
and I imagine looking toward a barn
and once the chores
to look in peace
special
that day
scrubby fields
maybe
snow-covered
house the way houses are in that
part of the region
and
the nation
in the standings
in the time
is there room
in the house
in the barn
over
the fields
for hope
for moving away should there be the slightest more
one year
and
having grown
to do so
c l couch
briefly about my mother who grew up as a child not of but in the Depression
photo by Markus Petritz on Unsplash
Christmas in July
we say that Christmas is December
and yet
because we need not fixed remember
then
there is no reason why
can be no Christmas in July
c l couch
a while ago, a friend was asking why Christmas could not be celebrated in July, not with sales but with services; part of this verse I came up with right away, the rest boiling like plum pudding over years
photo by Susan Wilkinson on Unsplash
A Christmas Season Message
(anytime)
So once it’s proclaimed
That
God loves you
And a presumption
God loves
Me
Then
We might consider
For ourselves and the world
God loves us
It’s not an easy love
Because the world
Isn’t easy
Rather
Selfish
And destructive
You know this
And the presence of God
Is not made so visible
Or at all
Though there are stories
And what does
This love
Mean
To ask catechistically
Well
It’s the strongest fragile going
Because the world and the devil
Seem
To have their ruinous say
And rule over
Temptations
Ready to wreck us
When we’re turned
Ignoring
Keep from us notions of
Redemption
With reconciliation
Back
Into the body of believers
And so much
Too much
Is hidden in the world
Like treasures found
In mines
As well as ancient
Tombs
That were new once in grief
And now perhaps
Remembrance
Truth hides too easily
Secrets used
To cover truths
Of course
And there’s a pushing under of
Open justice
That restores
By a greater interest
In control of
Rules
And closed-over until-
Declared
Tyranny
Meaning
Sinful attitudes and strategies
Allowed
Through good things bent
Too often by
Prosperity
And punishment
Which warps the understanding of
What’s fair and
Openly
Respectful
In favor of shaded interest
And is this real
Well
All of it must be
Making
Sad sense out of what
Explains
The way things are
And love is hard in this
And some would say impossible
As a human
Reaction
Understood
While love itself might go
Underground
Deeper than the superficial world
Knows
Love might have to hide
Rising when it’s risky
But
To seal the deal on planet Earth
And who knows where else
That better
Vows
Mean something
And we must take the chance to say
And sometimes write so
And say so
From a podium
Until repudiation of such public love with
Podium
And church or temple
Fired by hate
With worldly agendas behind
‘Til what is good
To hear
To bring us together
Is then ashes
Love is strong
Even when assailed
And it shall
Last beyond
But
Oh
It
Takes a beating now and then
Or all the time
Depending on who’s
Or what’s
In charge
But love regardless
God’s behind it and in front
And is invisible
Irascibly
It seems
Even to allow great danger to
Adherents
But love is
Called for
Anyway
And we should love
Each other even more visible than
God
‘Til God more obviously shows
Keeping the understanding
Learning
And the living that
As we might
Know
Singly and together
God loves us
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(for its own lectern maybe, serving a sermon or another kind of message in a hall or other place or kind of gathering)
Photo by virkelighet on Unsplash
merry
there was a creche
and a lamb
was
part
of that with other sheep
and it seemed the
lamb
had looked
at me
that was Christmas Eve
enough
for Christmas day
and for the world
each
in the world
a merry day
a happy
season
of
whatever kind
for you
and should nature nod at you
find the joy
live in
the joy
c l couch
photo by Phil Hearing on Unsplash
The Remarkable
Advent ends
Because
Something has arrived
Something we can say is wonderful
As we understand the scope of
Things
The stakes
As it were
For what is coming
Is for everyone
Despite denominations
Or
Traditions
Or
Not holding with any
To belong
Because the great belonging comes
From this
An arrival meant
To rescue
Not in the worldly sense of any action
Previous
Any victory
Of ours
But in its own humility
Though
With modesty
Restraint
To teach
It’s the remarkable arriving
For our world that
Is
So loved that
This singular
Salvific process
If
Echoed throughout everything
With enough to talk
To share
Shall begin
C L Couch
Photo by Sergey Turkin on Unsplash
(x = space)
x
x
Hard-Fought
x
1
It’s been Christmas
x
Time for anyone
Generally
Though call it Christian
If you like
x
The good news
Being
Christmas is
For everyone
Its pagan roots supposed
If not exposed
Its re-interpretation
Now
Undoctrinaire
x
We fight to move
City to city
And then back
And while we’re there
Have only
Worldly expectations
The right recipe
The perfect
Gift
Though true believers
Outside packs
In daylight know
There’s no perfection
Please
x
Expectation
Slaying those
Inside
‘Til they escape
To ten thousand feet
Or more
With extra oxygen
Again
x
2
Quiet believing
Rather
In a country church
Before the altar
Or the table
Utilizing
Oldish forms
For worship
Or maybe
Remembrance alone
x
Faith might be small
Its absence we
Bring with us
Where it is dark by
Candlelight
x
Dim revelations only
Through
Our liturgies
x
But silence
While the world cracks
Outside
We found this hour
To remind ourselves
Within a sect
Of our
Sometimes surprised
Devotion
To the words about
The importance
Of
What’s important
x
3
We’ll take with us
Some revelation
With us
For a while
After
‘Til the urban
And suburban worlds
Shall fall on us
Again
x
Clarity lost like paradise
A cover
We had not requested
Pushing holy air
Inhaled
Out into the dust
From falling
Failing acquisition
We say
Means
Christmas morning
The hours and
Days after
Rather than faith
For acquisition
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Andrew Seaman on Unsplash
x
(x = space)
x
x
giftly exchange
x
there is no morning rush
where to
after all
x
the rush remains
inside our heads
and challenged
if not sated
by what’s going on
not on the street
but inside
all our homes
or
alternatively-shifted places
x
it might be nothing
might be plenty
lights
ribboned boxes
food
the ordinary
mixed with special
become special
everything
because the time
is measured
and remembered
differently
x
it might mean something
we might go to church
there might
be presents
and be meals
with some things that we do
most days
with just a hint of special
in the room
and in the air
traversing
x
singers
say
it’s Christmas
if we let them
if we play the radio
or playlists
from our system
x
we might remember
anyway
and think on it
relaxing into
maybe
the day off
and maybe one more
to sip
to sigh
to say
that’s all right
enjoy that
merry Christmas
x
c l couch
x
x
photo by Dušan veverkolog on Unsplash
x
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