manna
the kind that doesn’t keep ‘til the next day
God
forgive us
and help us
for
our daily bread
please
and we might forgive but need the bread
regardless
and there
is
something about stones given for bread as in
don’t do that
but
feed the children
and feed everyone
as
a spiritual need
that our bodies
serve
and that connection is the way it is
the way we are
and we have the capacity
to give
as well as to consumer
to do the sharing of our lives
which we
are also made to do
and so forgive
and
don’t offer stones though if begrudgingly
to give the bread as well
or
if we’re merchants sell the bread
for us
to take home
or to bake
maybe with interest
maybe with need because
this is
the world we know
in which we must make what we shall use
and provide
to use
and this is family
this is neighborhood
and
for some of us
what we resort
to
when the war or the wildfire is on
c l couch
photo by Benjamin Jauregui on Unsplash
common book of prayer
God
forgive me
and help me
and is this so bad
a prayer
not
to utter most days
to start
or sometime throughout
it’s my
common prayer
as if I kept a common book
from which
I read
depending on the hours
it’s presuming
I suppose
if
asking
belief that God will forgive
and
God will help
and maybe the two-step isn’t needed
since
God might help me
anyway
not waiting for even personally determined
forms of doctrine
for
the hours
c l couch
photo by kevin turcios on Unsplash
“Ain’t no love in the heart of the city.”
San Francisco (USA)
baruch
Yom Kippur
that I don’t fully understand
but that is happening
now
sunset Friday
to nightfall
Saturday
(which is today)
and this year
no doubt
there will be praying for the closeness
of God
upon the hostages
held by Hamas
and not by the Palestinian people
generally
the day is for repentance
to ask forgiveness of
the Lord
so that we might be restored
and reconciled
but something I’ve been told is that
the day before
Erev Yom Kippur
is a day for asking forgiveness
of each other
we forgive each other
and then
we may ask forgiveness of God
ten days for repentance
actually
between Rosh Hashanah and
now
the Christian doctrinal story
is about
leaving one’s gift before the altar
to go
make up with one’s sibling
(should
there be conflict)
and thus being
truly
prepared
even according to priorities
to go to
present at the altar
to have time
with the Lord
and be open to fullest forgiveness
forgive each other first
then ask
forgiveness of God
I think that’s how the teaching goes
in two traditions
maybe more
I don’t
know
I could be wrong
of course
But might God bless
the devout
on Yom Kippur
and
direct us all toward
reconciliation
c l couch
photo by Jeanne Rouillard on Unsplash
Kind Brief Invocation
O God
Be our Tuesday help
Forgive us our
Mistakes
Our other-side-of
Edenness
‘Cause
Sometimes
We let fall
Or we forget
Without malice
But our flaws
Pervade
There is
The Kintsugi of wisdom
Help us fix
And even beautify
The scars
By
Gold understanding
C L Couch
Photo by Brian Pappel on Unsplash
[sun and dew transform—goldify, as it were]
(x = space)
x
x
Wonderful Counselor
x
Should we meet with God
I shall be glad
I might become chagrined
At what God will tell you
While I’m there
But I’m sure the conversation
Will be necessary
There might be understanding and
Reconciliation
Our lives on Earth an untrue experience
Now washed and cleared
The dark glass clean
Through which, if we all will,
All forgiven
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Susan Mohr on Unsplash
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