The Mystic, Ordinary Process
(for Evelyn Underhill)
Live the way I want
To
Which would mean
Living with you
With your nearness
With
Your love
And as a recipient of mine
Learning anew to pray
Into the world
For everything that’s wrong
And to keep
As in care for
Everything
That’s right
To practice confessing
Beyond
I’m sorry
To live out penance
Through listening
Responding to the world
And what is needed
Here
There is
So much to do
At Pooh Corner
Though contemplatives might say
The real action
As is said of many things
Is actually in the heart
And in the head
As vessels of the Spirit
Even launchpoints
For the Lord
To think
Canaveral about it all
Then to the world
To the rawness of it
To the terrors
And the grossness
And also
To the beauty
Of it all
This is
So strange
To say
And will you be with me
When my dignity’s
Surrendered
And I stand bloodied
Before
Ersatz courts
Places of injustice
Even fortresses
From which I know
Nothing
Of the entrance
Or the exit
My way through
Must be with you
Even if I’m on the way
To an earthly version
Of infernos
Not because
There is a heaven
On the other side of that
(I’m not that smart
to know)
But because I’m trying
(yes
I know
I’m trying
hah)
And you honor me enough
Bestowing companionship
Which is
I know
Enormous honor
So be with me simply
Because simple
Is all I really know
Not without art
Or an acknowledgement of grace
To have things
Understood as
Special
When things are barely moving
Or
Even in crisis
Something remarkable
(dare I say
amazing)
And when it’s quiet
And as
Such
The hour is
Still
And it’s
Simple
Easy
Once again
Plus there might be someone
And-or
It’s the two
Or three
Or four of us
And that’s a party
In which
Loving things are said
Loving games are played
And we discuss
The nature
And the aspects
And
Well
The now
Also into the future
Of everything
Foray into the past
When necessary
To keep the rest
I know
Real
But it’s now
And you are now
Help me
Forgive me
Stay with me
As I would be with you
Perfectly
But so imperfectly
For now
Until you teach me
In a place of
Frankly
Afterlife and grace
Thank you for faith
And even my response
As is
C L Couch
Photo by Richard Lee on Unsplash
look out now
merest blue
it seems
with
a guess
more than a hint
of more light
behind
what do we call it
pre-pre dawn
that
spell-check
would challenge
when we
write about this
later
expect it
o be cold
and so allowably
do
what we do
a time
to pull around
more clothing
from the bed
or closet
on the chair
(maybe
the floor)
to find some extra
socks
(maybe on
the floor)
drink water
also look for something
warm
that could be from
another body
or if alone
from coffee
or if not
from both
nice morning
well
a morning
like a morning
should we not stop
by
the fence
somewhere
to look around
without our eyes
to get it
this happened
yesterday
and
it’s extraordinary
‘morning
everyone
look around
c l couch
photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash
(update on the computer shutdown from a few days ago)
my computer is not working right, though it’s okay in bouts (me, too); a friend suggested I use a table fan to deal with overheating (maybe for both of us), and she’s right—the measure seems to work for now though it’s probably an unrealistic arrangement for durance
(x = space)
x
x
(sorry, this is long—and rather existential)
x
x
World without End except It Ends
(a kind of rhapsody)
x
And how are things
In Ukraine
And how are the Rohingya
The indigenous in
Amazonia
(where it
turns out
no tall women
cast like
Gal Gadot)
And in NZ
And the USA
x
And how are they recovering
From earthquakes in India
And Pakistan
(and give thanks for rescues
from the mines)
Plus the quakes before
In Syria
x
Dealing with the aftereffects
On Maui
And now a new spill
Of a million gallons
In our
Gulf
x
We go to war
Nature beats us down
And yet I’m quiet in a minute
(coughing slightly)
With the morning sun
And branches
Scraping a Hallowe’en hello
Against the window
x
And the kitchen sink
Is stopped
And there are fruit flies
From the bananas
That I dared to buy the other day
And sinuses
And heart disease
That go on
x
And there is not a feeling
Of assessment
Or of judgment
Things are the way they are
It is what it is
We are dust in the wind
Qué será
Será
(every generation
needs this lyric)
x
I am safe for now
That’s why
I don’t feel bitter in the world
Except sometimes
When the thought is thought
Or something happens
Even though there’s faith
x
And there is faith
Nothing extraordinary
One might think it
Feel it
Commonly
And every day
Through prayer enforced
In every hour
x
Faith in God
More than each other
Though in each other
Too
And even in the world
God help us
(and God will)
While we have the world
Not each for each one
But
(Dumas
D’Artagnan)
One for all
x
But faith
But hope and love
That’s how it goes
With the greatest
We are told
Is love
And have I love
Have you
And does it keep us
From the Trough
Of Despair
x
And to correct
That’s ancient Greek
And economics
While the giant is
Despair
And there is challenging
For Pilgrim
The Slough of Despond
(funny how some college readings
don’t stay with you)
x
Right or wrong
We have the world
And ourselves
We breath
Sometimes in contemplation
Seeking mysticism
Or simply get us through
The day before us
As we dread it
Or we fear it
x
There is a war zone
Though I don’t face
Maybe with you
Blood and disaster
Lack of reason
All of explosions’
Randomness
But there is a war zone
One big one everywhere
It’s spiritual
(big deal
you might say
in which
there are
no broken bones
no wishes
for a ceasefire
in so many other places)
Though it is real
x
It wants to pull us down
To smother
Or to drown us
So that we cannot
Look out clear
Or up above
For quotidian metaphor
Since underneath miasma
Or on the other side
Of despair
There is source of faith
As well
Reason to hope
Impetus to love
x
Shantih
I’m nobody
Too
Let’s not advertise
Keep it simple
Keep it quiet
Layer the world’s noise
Above
On all sides
Below
x
For on the breastplate
It is etched
That the source is everywhere
(like Savoir Faire
je ne sais quoi
and so stay
chez lui)
x
Hurry up
Please
We have no time
The Rider’s on the loose
The Dark is rising
Look for holiday scenes
Also in
Roll of Thunder
Hear My Cry
And even
Murder mysteries
(looking at you
Louise Penny)
x
And how have the spirits
Told us over ages
Still listening
By the adept
God blessing the dispossessed
Living within
Unjust environs
x
We devalue
The supernal
Yet look for it
In seminars
And everything
That tells us about God
Without God
Which is okay
I guess
Money that’s wasted
Must be wasted on something
x
Set God aside
(God is used to this)
How are we knit
Regardless
Well
Through capillaries
Synovia
All the ways our bodies
Work
More or less
x
In floors
Between skyscrapers
(yes
I know
‘til they fall)
In rivers moving through
The plains
To make grand canyons
x
Through overlays of roads
We lay of web
There are great potholders
With a better need
For infrastructure
But look at the lights
From space
The synaptic pattern
Of our world
x
For now
We got one
We have each other
x
And how are things
In Glocca Morra
I feel
I have to say that
And the tune go through my head
All day
And what is yours
x
We sing
If only through our brain cells
Maybe through memories
Or if we must
Out loud
x
As many say
(and sing)
The extraordinary
In the ordinary
We must have this
It parallels
The things made not
By us
But for us
After all
x
What crowns creation
Us or sabbath
And besides the heads
With angels dancing
For a count
Who really cares
Since God wears the crown
And that is that
x
A crown of Earth
Some think
Though it isn’t
There
x
Worlds of all kinds
Aren’t crowns
Or bear them
We visit
Truly visit
And we know
x
So let ambition
Have a better end
Reach in all directions
For what’s
Next
What is today’s
What’s in the hour
All the hours we
Are given
And have left
x
Let’s not be
Moribund
In attitude
Not while there is
So much
For us
And that we make
To make
To last
To prosper
Even in
Disposable economies
x
There is grace
With
Gracia
In the world
And intrusions of miracles
All the time
And we medically
Constructively
Artisanally
Make our own
x
What shall we make
Though
As we know
We don’t take it with us
Even cells
But leave things behind
That in eternity
Is dross
But become
Legacies
For those still
Living here
x
All the names
All the actions
All we own
Or think we own
They matter
Though all matter
Be reformed
(as in re-informed
and in
the usual kind
like Protestants
now let’s all cheer like Protestants
which is in the movie)
x
Nothing lasts
And everything lasts
It’s our memory
And God’s computer
Accounting angels
Excused from the heads of pins
To do the real
Work
In magnificent
And terrifying shape
Which is why
They’re always saying
Do not be afraid
x
Don’t be afraid
Though
There are fearful things
We can resort
To faith
Hope
Or love
Or simply
Painfully
Endure
x
Enduring’s good
(so’s faith)
For keeping us
Around
‘Til something better
Happens
And maybe resolution
For what has hurt
Has wounded us
For so long
Or a day
x
Hang on
Hurry
Or don’t hurry
We have the hour
Candlelight
Inside the mind
And with our bodies
Move ourselves
Whole or partial
Through the day
x
Dear ones
God is here
And we are here
Our touch is easier
For flesh
x
So let flesh
With spirit bless
The first
A mortal blessing
Less to bestow
But we can do it
The second
From an origin
That is not us
But like us
We are like
x
And let there be amen
If this is prayer
Or in another attitude
Say grace
That isn’t grace
But the best
We might do
x
C L Couch
x
x
(bye, bye, M—, well, you know who)
x
Photo by Justin Wilkens on Unsplash
The Yazoo River out of its banks near highway 61 North. Flood waters up to the levee road.
x
(x = space)
x
x
the devil
(you say)
x
the tempter
the corrupter
the ruiner of things
resist
no thanks
go away
we’ll bring in professionals
xxxxxif we have to
diaspora
we’re spread apart
you like us this way
we don’t believe in
xxxxxtogether
should we understand
that we are three in one
because God is
(that is the pattern)
we can stand alone
xxxxxJesus
xxxxxJohn
xxxxxElijah
xxxxxMoses
xxxxxeach and all did that
goodness, we know that well
but to be together
find gentle,
overwhelming power in that
we don’t know that
not anymore
not since the last time
and the time to come
and meantime?
we are together all the time
we only need to turn
to find each other
share the tiny glory
in that
the tiny victories
that add up
or they don’t
breathe in
breathe out
let life happen
as it’s supposed to happen
our alone times
our together state
the glory of the Lord
shine through
all shapes and sizes
everything and everyone
inside creation
not the devil
that gave up all right
to enter realms instead
of nothingness
x
x
elements
x
matter merges
xxxxxspiritual and fleshly
xxxxxmaterial
xxxxxgrain and grapes
xxxxxtogether
xxxxxeach part
xxxxxand together
xxxxxchanged
xxxxxinto finer things
xxxxxcloser to purpose
xxxxxcloser to creation
xxxxxand creation
xxxxxand what is finer than
xxxxxa smidgeon more intentional?
xxxxxall the wonder
xxxxxsimple and refined
xxxxxis here
xxxxxmade from the start
xxxxxmade full
xxxxxby God
xxxxxJesus
xxxxxand the Spirit
xxxxxwho are here
xxxxxwhose substance
xxxxxwhose presence
xxxxxis in here
xxxxxand is in you
x
x
notes
x
I’m sorry, while drafting I couldn’t think of women in the Bible who stood or prayed or fled to be alone; now I think that Mary could have been by herself when encountered by the angel and in her response to the announcement and the will of God; Judith might have prayed on her own, away, as well; and Esther might have planned the salvation of Israel in the same way
x
Photo by Mark Duffel on Unsplash
x
The Ordinaries
The dog is old and that concerns me
It should concern me for me, too
But I am inside and have some idea of
What’s going on
What’s going on with you?
It is in ordinary time
Running long between Pentecost and
Advent
With special days in between, such as
All Saints’ and All Souls’
It is our time
As Sean Astin’s character in The Goonies
Says
Down here, this is our time
Down here, we are ordinary
I have little idea how time in heaven goes
There was a war there, so we think
Our lore recalls a third of heaven fell
Maybe Eden was
A strategy for getting back
What we know is
We have this day
For our old dogs
An aging Earth that sometimes
In whirlwinds
Acts as if it knows no limits
And will live forever
In wildness
Without rules or counting,
Which is amazing
And is dangerous
Down south where I am now,
Folk really like their porches
They sit on special outside chairs
They rock, they glide
They tell stories
Sometimes it’s only the weather
But tell me there isn’t gospel in this
Good news that after storms
We will recover
And we will meet each other at least twice
Here and in extraordinary living
There
C L Couch
Photo by Jason Chen on Unsplash
Hello, It’s Me
It’s Saturday
An ordinary day
Maybe it’s ordinary time
In the liturgy
Ain’t extraordinary, that’s for sure
It’s dark before dawn
Why was it said the darkest time
The fading has begun
Just before dawn, there’s light
It’s an announcement
I am coming
Get ready for me, day
C L Couch
Photo by Jenna Anderson on Unsplash
Was driving early in the morning to shoot a wedding and saw this to my right. Had to pull over to capture it.
clcouch123 
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