two windows
the day has turned
a little gray
and the way I saw two windows lined
in the brick house across the street
got
me thinking about school
and how when I was in
it didn’t hurt
to be
looking out
well
until caught at it
nonetheless where
the colors
were not made of paper or the time
of paper
either
but promise that we’ll get
to go
even if uncertain where
I should be going freely and so
learned to keep
a sense
and wish
for
freedom
hmm
and now the day is gold again
c l couch
photo by Waldemar Brandt on Unsplash
A little yellow house in the fishing town Büsum, North Sea.
the building across the street is red brick, but I like this photograph
walk to freedom
the Underground Railroad
there is an image of Lincoln
and of
a burgeoned tree in
front of the house
I borrow
and sometimes I wonder at these
the basement is connected and apart
a dirt-floored room with
a further alcove
also
rude but accessible
unnoticed and attached
and could there be a place of hiding
in this place
and
did it work
and are there untold stories of
escape
and respite on the way
to much more
lasting
freedom
that with Confederates occupying
the region could afford
or
were there failures
time to time
and no one got out
to live
except to go back south and
lack of life
to breathe the mottled air
humidity with
captivity
even the molecules would not be free
but paid for through blood released
and
freedom kept
inside
c l couch
photo by 85mm.ca on Unsplash
"Toronto Blue Jay Black Juneteenth Celebration"
Toronto, Canada
published on June 19, 2025
well, there are two poems here, the first I wrote on how I was (am) inside, the second as an extension, prompt, based on the photograph—so it’s a little journey through words and image and more words and hopefully acceptable to you
ergo sum
what freedom do we have
I want it
and a little more
which
is why I drive to no places in particular
but
to take in the view
pretend it’s clearer air
and always new
discovery
exploring
better than an armchair
if only really
not
so much
(clc)
photo by Karsten Winegeart on Unsplash
“Morning Hikes”
[Morning Hikes
to quote the photographer]
honestly
I’m wondering
if
one is holding back the other
preventing straying
yet
also perhaps initiative
the insight of one’s own
to move
to fine
more
than what it tacit
agreed upon
then
is
someone holding back another
or is the first one affirming
that
the other comes along
and this hand-
holding
is the gentlest of cues
c l couch
the persecuted
a day knowing no freedom
all unfeatured ice
c l couch
photo by Bryan Rodriguez on Unsplash
bless the wild
better than
form
is the love you place on wild things
blessing
these with
spirit and adventure
to
let them go
while under care
to dance and run and
love
in all the untame ways
that were
created
then released
while forms are fine for form
but
let the lightning-forces go
never the same
to strike
even with danger in
the magic
risks
in release
but how does freedom that you show
go in any other way
so model this
and
everything outside broken cages
as
the bars are devil’s interest
and love is as roarious
as you
c l couch
photo by wallace Henry on Unsplash
2 poems about the new season (more or less)
Bouncy
God
It’s yellow Friday
With blue and brown
On deck
It’s
Spring and time
Not for the metaphor this
Time but
To really
Play some ball
Training
Then the opening
We each can do this
Batter
You know
Up
And I’ve switched audience
Though aren’t you
Always there
(for
an excuse)
Forgive me
And allow me to say
Maybe
To everyone
About
Gospel of play
And did you plays as you ringed
And then rounded
Creation
Maybe
Keep us
Safe
In this new season
Knowing that our choices
Make the difference
Even if
And when
We could turn our will
Toward yours
A wheel
And a wheel within a wheel
But I was thinking baseball
Pitches
Running
And then
The coming home
Green
Workaday
And extraordinary-day
New
Season to you
And to you
Amen
Freedom Ring
The Liberty Bell is cracked
And there were more
Bells
At the time
Ringing freedom
While now we have
The broken bell
For show
And there is wisdom
In admiring the broken
Toward
Kintsugi perhaps
Or to leave in
Pieces
Sometimes for further lack of use
Except in small beholding
Or
When a sizable
Cast bell
To dream on ringing
To dream really large
Sometimes
C L Couch
Photo by Joe Richmond on Unsplash
Worth Keeping
I keep
Thinking
About
War
And war-like things
Like drugs in trade
And
Trafficking
Because one life
Is worthy
Even intensely
And intensely
Valuable
And who are we
To say
We’ll keep this one
Let that one
Go
By paperwork
The gold slip by
Aghast
Or sigh
For boredom
In our sins
We’ll bank another
Somewhere
Else
Conquer
Or imprison
Until
Or while
Each of us is caught
The flesh
For opportunity
Whatever else
Inside
Stays in the boxes
Where we keep
Supplies
Aside
To keep us going
Yet each
Might be a savior
No
You’re wrong
None of us
Shall save
Or even aid
To saving
Through an invention
Or a discourse
To change minds
Toward
New understanding
For a race
To have
To change
For the better
As we could have said
Even
Fantastically
To say
And have
Amazing
Opportunity
If we let each one go
To growth
And with assists
And then so much
Better
For a life
Not an investment for
Money
And for blood
Let each one
Live
Who came into this world
As we say
And say
By mortal hands
And by the Lord
As promises
To planets
And to galaxies
Home
And away
And for each other
One
Two
Keep going
Make a world
And then another one
Worth keeping
C L Couch
Photo by Aman Chaturvedi on Unsplash
(x = space)
x
x
ring
x
God is here
thank goodness
God is there
in Ukraine
in war
and Morocco
split earth
many lives taken
x
in the hundred-plus
degree days
in Texas
for those
trying to live there
and before the hurricane
call one Lee
while we are in ships
on land
securing
waiting
knowing there will be destruction
during
and after
re-life-building
keening
grieving
for the loss of us
anywhere
x
we still wait for freedom
God approves
and works resistance
and diplomacy
risks offense
Jesus was offensive
and still turns
the heads of certain people
x
souls
and daily lives
devotion on a string
that breaks
that someone cuts
to ruin
or to barricade
x
God persists
in presence
in numbers
yes
God has the Earth
all given satellites
and other worlds
but take it one by one
even
with respect
and certainly with truth
the kind a Pilate
may not know
or want to know
x
debate
sure
work your fallacies
and jaw agendas
or shut up
shut down
look at the world
with any
and all senses
in all seasons
x
God is there
you won’t believe
and it’s a place to start
like rain
to put out our fires
snow to cool the deserts
or fire
parametered
to thaw the frozen
x
listen
talk
give up
what must be given up
yes
me
too
x
enough grammar to share
and all civility
that’s dignified
respectful
God will take us there
as in the wilderness
the chaos
we can no longer
count
because the crazy overwhelms
sometimes
x
God is here
sorry
we can go rounds on this
or leave it go
experience it
or not
we could step over this
to save in our ways
that are constructive
building up
that is
tearing down what only
tears down
x
love and live the rest
even God might say
that is enough
for now
stepping around
certain stanzas
that divide
unusefully
not for distinction
or thick conformity
x
rather the unique
formal
free
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Ben Wicks on Unsplash
x
(x = space)
x
x
Moment Clear
(to go with “The Moment,” “Moment Passed”)
x
Hello
You must be God
I don’t know what I’m saying
I could read from a book
I suppose
You’d know the words
And I guess
That you know mine
x
Why are you invisible
Why are you only known
Through agencies
Through angel words
And actions
Fighting
Providing
Or announcing
Such a scary thing to Mary
Words in the sky
To frighten shepherds
Though getting them
To Bethlehem
As well
x
And may I know you
Unseen and surrogates
The promise
In the making
Of the cosmos
Promising perfection
With you later
x
Well
Maybe it’s simple
Believe in you
Or not
You remain the same
And for some reason
Have a plaintive part
As if you long for us
Having made us
Then pushed us along
From making
Into life
Into choices
x
And we may choose you
On our own
Without good evidence
Through with impulsive knowing
That there’s good and bad
Somehow both
And good is better
Bad amounts to nothing
Even though it gets to dress
In temptation
That we find compelling
x
Oh God
How do we know
How do we choose
I guess we do
We do
And that is all
No more
No less
Through faith there is the grace
The gift to everyone
In shadowlands
Enough clarity
To know you
And to have you
Knowing
You have us
Through the next moment
Of posterity
Into eternity
x
That’s it
We believe
And you remain
Unrevealed
So that faith keeps to the road
As invisibly as ever
The way
Belief and grace
Shall take us
Knowing when we fall
From lack of evidence
Or from gilded devils
With their feet out
x
We can pick up ourselves
And even reach for you
To know that something’s
Someone’s
There
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Randy ORourke on Unsplash
x
clcouch123 
Recent Comments