with those who go for peace this or any day
the afternoon is leaning
as we have this day
to mark
the birth of Jesus
Joshua
who saves
and we have holly
I’m not sure about the ivy
bulbs on trees
of
various materials
that among things
challenge
cats
we have presents out of boxes
or assembled
of a shape that
takes
a ribbon only
and we’ll have special food
that might go heavy
or
go light
so many cuisines practiced
and we could have thoughts for those
without
and go take care of them
or us
depending on our place
and situation
a secular or sacred
day
or how many traditions are expressed
as they are lived
and on this day perhaps
strange
harmony
to be believed
and shared
and those in trenches
of all kinds
though not unlike
1914
could have the adversaries join
or to face reality
we launch from afar
or
that sometimes the trenched place
is a city street
or division
in one
literal family
and then the metaphor
of family
as all of us who are the world
and how we fight
or
have peace
might be affected by a day
more
or less if happily
imposed
and I guess I’ve said
let the true test
go tomorrow
not
by angels though they referee
or act as ancient chorus
but
in the waking light
of culture’s normal day
could fight less
and make
peace
more not because the time of year
says so
but
in a timeless important day
we
say so
c l couch
I think maybe I repeat myself from yesterday—oh, well, eve and now the day—and Merry Christmas with wishes for each a special day!
photo by Ice Angel on Unsplash
(x = space)
x
x
Christmas 1
x
It’s Christmas day
What shall we say
But that the world
Is old and tired
And ornery
And peace taken
For an illusion
Some might enjoy
Invented
Only on the inside
Then a webinar
With fees
x
Here,
The sun is out
The temperature has climbed
Into two digits
There are icicles on the screen
Outside the casement
Of the window
Church is on line
Not only hundreds of miles away
But the consequence of heart disease
Is to stay
When the weather is extreme
Either way
And to deal with low energy
As in
It takes me forever
To do anything
x
And did Christ come today
Christ comes
Every day
x
And in a good way
I don’t care if
It was December 25
Or the ides of March
Something happened
The child of God was born
The child is also God
Was born
x
Is there meaning
In the other ways?
Of course,
There is
These seek the truth as well
And we should
Be
Should be
With them
x
Christmas is cultural
I’m at church
Hearing the songs
Hearing about the welcome
Of Ukrainians
Here
And I am glad
x
It isn’t peace on Earth
Only in
Such a small portion
Of the whole
x
And shall we say
Jesus was born?
I think we should
It’s history
x
Then in a supernal way
Maybe the spirit’s born again
In loving refugees
And loving refugees
Maybe there were times
When mortal Jesus
Felt outcast
Alone on Earth
As and why he walked away
From time to time,
Once
Prayed in the garden
x
You know,
We may take up
Exegesis
And
Evangelism
Later
And may I pause midstream
Like the saint to say
To the child Jesus
(I to you
and I a mortal child),
x
Merry Christmas
And for twelve days
That make
This varied
Still hopeful
Hopeful, still
Yes, brief
Season
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Robert Kalinagil on Unsplash
x
I hope it is a holiday of blessings for you, regardless of tradition or having no tradition. It’s a time when at least we speak to peace on Earth, which means more people think about it, if only in reaction. And reactive thought can realized in action.
I’m still dealing with new pain, and I hardly sleep at night (from old pain and the new). I’m sorry, this makes me less communicative than I’d so much like to be. I’m trying some new medication. Maybe that will provide enough amelioration.
I wish and pray for you a Merry Christmas, leading to the start of what will be a Happy New Year.
Christopher
Let Earth
(end of Advent, Christmas Eve or Christmas day, or, you know, anytime)
And where is joy?
It’s here
Depending on your mood
Or how you’re treated
How you treat someone else
You may not see it
The wrong ones will not pay attention
The ones who are wronged will
Because they must
It often goes this way
With wisdom to
Make a choice,
A pledge to difference
If you can,
In all moods choose joy
If you can’t, maybe joy will find you
If not, we’ll have to wait
Endure
‘Til there is allowance
And recourse
Sorry if that’s hollow
Everything cannot be fixed
In a day
A year
And not a moment
But where is joy?
It’s here
If within opacity like crystals in
The tube of a kaleidoscope
But made of a magic kind of gem that
Someday must crash through
Into release
A new promise of day
Without involvement of the persecutor
With unbound chances
To live openly and well
A day of birth
Such as this one
C L Couch
https://pixabay.com/en/winter-patterns-freezes-design-20135/
All at Once Everywhere
(for Christmas day, anytime)
It’s a holiday everywhere
Except where it’s not
Sometimes in some places that
Is normal
Some places not so much
Where there is suffering
Where there is illness without comfort
Where there is nothing but alone
And, you know,
Christ came for these
An infant will grow up into infinity
We will treat him horribly
He will return, because he loves us
More than that
He is here
He is with us, now
And all the angels
With the saints
That’s us
C L Couch
https://pixabay.com/en/frost-winter-morning-snow-season-633826/
Hurry
Christ is born everywhere
I mean no disrespect
But Christ is born in igloos
And in houses split by war
Among refugees
And in soldier camps
Christ is born in Istanbul
Where meet all kinds of Christianity
He is born in mosques
And in Jewish temples
Christ is born in Norway,
When the days are dark
Christ is born in Fiji
Under lights of humid stars
Christ is born in Outback
And on New Zealand slopes
Within the folds of sheeping beings
And urban Christchurch, too
Christ is born in small America
And in the larger parts
Among the mean and angry
Those whose eyes and ears are full
Christ is born in Bethlehem,
Pennsylvania, and nearby Nazareth
In Resurrection, New Mexico,
And Devil’s Foot, Montana
Christ is born in France
In Germany and Belgium
Between tectonic places in Italy
And on the sweeps of Spain’s La Mancha
Inside the skins of churches
And other noble halls
Once bright and now sleeping
In states of ruin
Eurasian steppes and valleys
In places to the east and north and south
The crossing points of human worlds
And outplaces far removed
Christ is born where plots are made
In despot places
And Christ is born where hopes are low
And dreams are only quiet things
Christ is born for you
And me
Alongside faithful Hindus
And Buddhists on the way
Christ will walk beside all pilgrims
Those who hear a call
And those who know not
Where they go
Christ is born in Africa
In rutted villages and paved cities
Where voices rise in song,
While others silenced knowingly
Christ is born in Andes places
Those fed by weeping Amazon
With those who live in shadows
Where end all lands
And continents might cry
Christ is on the ice
And born into the air
Underneath the earth where
Minerals move
And where things are still
Christ is born near enemies or friends
No feeling is required
Christ is born in word
And light where
Faith is exposed as well as misdirection
Christ is born, and it is good
Christ is born and virtue opens
And evil is shuttered
Christ saves all who wish
And those who don’t know how
Christ is born for us
All worlds allow
Heir of Earth
All oxygen and ocean
Hale or foul,
And we should turn to please
And with shouts or
In silence bow
C L Couch
clcouch123 
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