courses
my abdomen
hurts
maybe from pressing on it
to be seated
maybe from gas
maybe
due to medication
maybe from stress of
maybe
something
existential
how is the day
and how’s the world
and how
much
should I care
and how shall my problems
go away
while this
side of
eternal matters
shall justice roll
my tiny stream
down to
a universal
sea
and shall that sea
move
indifference
to my causes
and
of course
it shall
it has its own concerns
with mortal storms
and all
and yet
the molecules of God
are with me
in mine
maybe a neutrino
or a quark
while the greater hand
might move with waves
to stir
or calm
that sea I think
cannot consider me
and the whole body
moved from forming Earth
into managing
the stars
as we say
in their courses
enforcing orbits
exacting
something like
cosmic obedience
though allowing for
the unpredictable
the errant comet
rascal
asteroid
as part of
divine predictability
contraries
embraced by
opposites uplifted
so that a little chaos
be allowable in
order
than back to you
and back to me
and how do we count
by God
and yet
we do
our bodies
on our bits of land
which is to say we
occupy
not own
and by the water
moving our concerns
toward that ocean
of collectiveness in which
it seems
impossibly
our matter
matters
too
everything we are
our cells
our abstract notions
with the uncounting qualities
of thinking
all emotions
of our loves
we may realize at any time
how remarkable
the small
however might be small
while larger things go
obviously from
that start of
things
day and night
Earth and all
and all in all
with each bit owned
if
maybe tallied
by beneficence
which is to say
God knows
and judges
and whose greater bias
as God
is to note all things
and love
all things
a refrain
the sea is so large
while
my boat so small
the merest of God’s breathing
for my sails
and shall I cross
and shall I transact
and then
shall I return
by the light that someone made for
home
(it would be proper if you thought of the Breton prayer upon reading what I'm calling "a refrain”)
C L Couch
Photo by Osman Rana on Unsplash
Nearly
So we come before you
And where is
Before you
We could turn around
And still we are
Before you
Like the breastplate
Of Saint Patrick
You are
In every direction
And inside
If we allow
The paradox of making
Should we owe
Everything
And yet make up our minds
And you
As God
Await
Our own discretion
Free will
We say
An easy name for doctrine
Better doctrine
Both
Explains and serve
Reality
And this is easy
You are God
And you are near
C L Couch
Photo by Steve Lieman on Unsplash
Two intrepid riders jump in the lift bucket for a ride to the top of the Union Congregational Church Steeple to remove the weather vane and directional so that repairs can be made. Hazmat suits needed due to danger of white faced hornet nest inside the top of the steeple.
Groton, MA, USA
Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
(from the Breastplate of Saint Patrick)
(x = space)
x
x
Zen
x
The lotus teaches
To be calm and whole
x
Bright color in
An otherwise dark pond,
Soft pointing toward
Heaven in many ways
(there is the root below)
x
Directions are not
Lost, even though
Not all become traditions
x
One point for someone
Might lead to
Singular adventure
And faith from that
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Umur Batur Kocak on Unsplash
x
Lent 32
Is there a mood for Lent?
We could light a candle
Or set a dancing flame inside
A lamp
We could cross ourselves into
A meditative frame,
A shape that’s somehow both
Relaxing and attentive
(from yoga, we might learn options)
We can clean our minds
Dust out the mental bunnies
That distract with
Rapid-fire hiding
Leave the nightmare-horses go
That otherwise fence our thoughts
And predilections
A prophet might say
Make straight
The roadway to the Lord
Monarchs might proclaim
A day for silence and in
Contemplation find peace within
Oneself and in the realm
But kingly days are done
(we have the prophet’s words)
Except for self-styling
Which days should be numbered, too
Leaving us with our unbloodlined
Selves,
Choice and determination
Know thyself, someone says
(sooner or later in nostalgic king’s English)
It’s a democracy of souls
To find direction
We are free
As we are
To seek out something
That we need
In and for each season
That we have
C L Couch
Michelle Kinsey Bruns – Mood LightingUploaded by Fæ, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23015762
Meals are by candelight on Great Gull Island. The candleholders have been around the block a few times.
clcouch123 
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