dire psalm

off the edge
I get
too close
even though the fog of consequence
is in there
over the last safe line

no
not that way
this way
where we were
all the steps
before

and if the land were not so hale
at least we knew
some
of the demons wandering
sometimes by
name and if we could not contend
could be
content enough to breathe
here
and stay that way
(breathing)

in the fog
I doubt there is evangelism
though
I’ve heard of
the harrowing of hell

and
I guess we must remain alive
to share words on
this
side
or hear the ones we need to hear

dissemble
for hypocrisy
we’re simply scared
before
and contemplating after
the billows of unknown
the formless clouds
which is
their form

so caught between the sure thing
the condemns
and what we’ve heard of darkness
and
temptation to go there

so where is the safe place
where
might we live
in confidence despite moral contraries in
the ways of the world

is there balm
and where is Gilead
for
that
or what is the prescription
more so the order to have medicine
brought
local
say
to the heart and mind
even as we are
or
where we are

well
you are in both places
I believe
and we believe and maybe there is
confidence
in faith
or maybe not but you are with us
in the doubt
the cloud of our own making
and unmaking in
the shapeless and yet fearful places
of
the soul

the needs to go somewhere
and
wherever
might we go with you

and to that we might
if like temerity
enough even boldly to affirm with
if not selah
then
an amen

c l couch


photo by Kristaps Ungurs on Unsplash