let’s say a year
a year
let’s say a year
a year of peace on Earth
to try
then come back
in a year
to talk about
how it went
how it goes
we might learn
say
that war
is bad for the economy
though the bullet-
and missile-
manufacturers
might disagree
we mean learn
that keeping up
our homes
is better
when our homes
are actually
up
we might enjoy
green spaces
beneath unimpeded
blue
or we might
work so very hard
on the other things
that worry
us
(like wool)
and sometimes destroy us
parts of us
all of us
we might make safer airplanes
and what goes
on the road
we might go
on the roads ourselves
to seek a peaceful journey
match the tone
of the time
set down what we
hear and see and smell and taste
and touch
set something down
to share
via the summit
later
we might learn
that we like this state
and that we like
this place
this way
we might go for
another year
or let explode
all things behind the barriers
that could explode
explode
and go to war
in small
destroying ways
like infiltrating
toadstools
or have an armageddon
between nations
letting in
militias
and weaponed gangs
as well
and fight officially
or with a sense
of random
‘til it all be done
except
it’s never done
or
as was said
we could go for
a second year
of peace
and in that time
upbuild
the rest
but for now
how about
a year
let’s go for a year
c l couch
photo by Pascal Bernardon on Unsplash
Four Is the Magic Number
(here if not on the School House Rock)
Honestly
There’s God
And also me
And you
And Earth
And what is self
And what is other
Goes fluidly
In
And through
And between
All things
In all dimensions
And we are close
And we are far
Apart
And yet
Always the next best thing
Is you
And/or me
And Earth
It’s what we got
There might be
Nothing nearer
Or more
Joyful
Either
So relish in existence
Keep it simply
Joyful
In the four things
Four elements
Four essences
We have
With currents
Moving through
And ‘round
And in between
All four
Or if you have it
Fewer
Or more
C L Couch
Photo by Elimende Inagella on Unsplash
Sooners
Soon
And very soon
What a wonderful way
To say that
A promise
That we won’t have long to wait
Before the bad things
End
The good things
Might be realized
Unsullied
Snow
Without mud
Or slush
Beneath
And spring beside
Well
Whatever season
We might need
A place for each one
And whatever
Passes for meals
In there
And meetings
With a purpose
The only agenda
Love
A life
And such a life
Soon
And very soon
C L Couch
Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3898658
is herein the shape of heaven?
though the soons I borrowed here are more from Andraé Crouch
(x = space)
x
x
Partly inspired by “There Will Come Soft Rains,” a chapter in The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury. This part of the story speaks to what is left of us. The chapter’s sad. Nonetheless I often think upon it.
x
x
Sci-Fied
x
Should the bombs fall
And I am atomized
And you
And the insects shall find
Nourishment
Not through flesh
(I’m atomized
so are you)
But through bits of trash
I had not the time
To take our back
x
And shall the Earth survive
To have another age
x
I remember
In the days of Strontium
We said we could
Destroy the planet’s crust
And so leave
The molten mass
The could heave
Or be
Settled down
x
Nostalgia
For a future guess
x
The Earth might have
Its own
As it once held us
There could be bees
And flowers for the bees
Or something
For pollen
So that something could
Pollenate
And there be land
With flora
Feeding
And softening
What’s left of our platforms
For another age
Of Earth
x
Arthropodic
Or could it be with feathers
Things that move
And have their being
Avoiding shadows
Form which
There used to be
Something in charge
Though now
The lesson’s different
This time
The arthropods
And feathered things
Have sentience
And speak gospel
x
While the Earth
In its own way
We never got
Though it was there
Shall smile
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Bernard Hermant on Unsplash
x
(x = space)
x
x
Hanukkah Blue
x
Hanukkah
Blue
Blue of certain
Stars
Pretty blue
Thoughtful
Magic
Works its way inside
Protective shells
To say
This is right
This is good
Blue for the miracle
Blue for peace
That should be
No one’s miracle
For happening
For real
Everyone
Upon the Earth
In every season
Once achieved
That point
From
Now on
Blue for jazz
Blue for me
Blue for you
Blue on
Beauty
All the stars
Starting on one star
For
Seasons’
Greetings
Blue on
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Zhifei Zhou on Unsplash
x
(x = space)
x
x
Grow Us
x
Will you grow us
God
Give us the chance
Even with tense peace
Our contribution
To the means
x
On an Earth
That has its way
But
We push against
For what we think
Advances us
x
Maybe with some relenting
Rather
Enjoy the Earth
As is
The wisdom
In the higher places
Thin air to breathe
For penance
x
The living in the valleys
Towns and farms
For habitation
And for food
That daily bread
We talk
About
x
Also forgiving
Tempered in forgiven
x
So that
As is
As defined
Ain’t bad
Especially when
We’ve changed so much
x
We could stand
(like plants)
To remember
Even renew
With
Re-expression
The peace in what was made
And is
And still is
The promise of return
From no investment
Save faith and some respect
For having
All this wonder
Bestowed
x
Plant us
As in Eden
And water us
For life
Not to keep us
Stuck
But to grow us
Free
Out into the world
Anthropocene
For now
Maybe better in alliance
With the one who planted
First
And still
Tills with real peace
In
Genesis dynamic
x
Amen
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash
x
(x = space)
x
x
Rising Seasons
x
I wasn’t counting
But there are vehicles that do
And they and their movers are
Confident
It will be another
Weekend of rain
Eighth in a row
Tomorrow
Saturday
And Sunday
And certainly
The sky just outside now
Is gray
The leaves are wet upon the ground
This time of day
It’s fall
x
It’s fall
We should expect some damp
Maybe in all seasons
But this is chill
Descends with leaves
Dissembling
That is
Dissolving
That we’d rather drive through
In sunlight
Brilliant light
And also dry
To pass through
All the colors
Dryly
Reclining
Divinely resting
Into winter
x
Our weekend sights
Set
For somewhere in New England
x
We want what we can’t have
Enough rain
To build the tables up
Again
Dry days and dry roads
For touring
And school
And time off
Simultaneously satisfied
As well
x
Well
Why not want things
There are always ponchos
And we need the rain
And schools have holidays
Sometimes
Sometimes that work
x
Then
Elsewhere
South of here
Or west
Or in another region
Of America
All Americas
Or in Africa
Or Europe
Far-flung Asia
The Pacific Rim
Or an extremity
Of white bears
Or the other
Where the penguins
In the photographs
Line civilly
Awaiting who is next
To slide into
Salt water
x
For you
In any of these regions
It must be so different
So wonderful and different
Where you are
And now
x
And maybe you will share
The weather and the climate
With those of us
Not there
But here
x
Meaning in the MidAtlantic
The Northeast
The Midwest
The Northwest
The northern South
And wide parts
Of Canada as well
x
Dry or damp
Let’s move
Adroitly on
All and any
All the pathways
That we have
Any of which
In any part
We hope
Might lead toward peace
x
As any of us might
Might wander
There and figure
In the sunshine
Or the rainshine
Depending on an attitude
A tolerance
Endurance
For the weather
Errant sunlight
Or the shade
For the interests they support
And for our own
About peacemaking
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Daniel Frank on Unsplash
x
(x = space)
x
x
osiris rex tremendae
x
we brought back part of an asteroid
today
while I was in church
what do you know
it happened anyway
I caught the replay
people near the capsule
sample in a box?
blackened spacecraft back on Earth
now left alone
(and I gloss
these are preliminaries
then
a bag
not a box)
and now someone should consider
quarantine
I’m sure someone has already thought of this
uh
we wish those closest
well
x
c l couch
x
x
x
(x = space)
x
x
Measure Twice
(or thrice)
x
Apologize twice
Once for God
Once for other people
And if you’re a polluter
Then
Once more for Earth
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Bozhin Karaivanov on Unsplash
x
clcouch123 
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