good and plenty
(not that I’m a fan of licorice)
God is good
and God is here
we reach out
to God
while we are here
wishing ours were better
when it’s
not
and also taking time
and sharing words of thanksgiving
for part of that
good
we have
and life goes mingled this way
even
with the Lord
and we persist in this adulterated life
because we should and is
our impulse to go
on
not
to wish ourselves to heaven
way before it’s time
or
whenever
the surprise to know
with
sadness left behind
while on the way toward joy in paradise
and this
is how it goes
as well
a mingled afterlife
and
not
to say this life is a rehearsal only
for it’s not
while it is for what comes after
it is its own
for dreaming and for realizing dreams
with
accountability along the way
so if frustrating
not
to have virtue instantly
rewarded
there is nonetheless
far-down peace that rises
through our flesh and to
our eyes
and mouths
to exude and share
what
we might know of lasting joy
that like the class activity to tell and
show
even the love of God and love as God
on Earth
c l couch
(allusion aside, the candy licorice fan would be my sister)
photo by The Nix Company on Unsplash
after some hours at this today
it’s darkened
I should go for another light
the close work has
made my eyesight blurry
too
and my lower back from bending over
well
not blurry
well
maybe
as pain might haze ambition
and I have said
and say
all kinds of things
in
other verses
though the moralizing’s heavy
maybe
from blurriness and pain
sigh
what should you like to hear
not
to curry
necessarily
but
to meet and interest or a need
you know that God is love or should
since the message is
ready enough
available
do you know that you are love as well
or at least have it in you
to carry outside
to
have your life better
and the world
too
so small at first
and then who knows how
wide the circles go
and you might be close to all this
as well
catch it when you see something land
on the smooth water of
a pond when
still
or other
water
maybe it’s the gospel of the small
that isn’t nearly big enough
realizing
the inevitable
the practice we don’t get away from
or
even the accountability
that
the word
the act
change things from ourselves to the world
no
matter what we’re told we matter
in this way
and so do small good
a motto
how about a bumper sticker
or what to adhere to our hearts
(I have a machine
inside
that might have
a sticker-place)
not
because the words are mine
but that they’re wise
regardless
and promise for the Earth
what should be healthy things to say
and
do
for a change
(hale
changes)
c l couch
photo by Amy Humphries on Unsplash
Bona
I hope you’ve had a good
Day
And I hope tomorrow is good
For you
Too
You’ve been deserving of this kind
Of time
I don’t know
If
It will be easy
You
Might have to work
And work is hard
You might
Have relationships attending
You might be inspired
Or
Reinforced
By
Spiritual truth
Maybe a presence
But for all the mights
I hope it is
And will
Be
Without doubt
A good
Day for you
I don’t think I’ve said this for a while
If not
Please pardon
Me
S’il vous plaît
C L Couch
Photo by Àlex Rodriguez on Unsplash
“Nice Game”
Fontcoberta
(Esperanto)
tenebrous
the devil wins
today
having turned the human forces
in the world
toward
death
humiliation of what’s good
even perfect
that traditions
say
came to save us from
ongoing
serpent
temptation
the twisting of what has been made
so good
bad
grotesque
the evil these point
toward has
won
without awareness
then
of three-day’s waiting time
the good is gone
or
must hide
surrender to new nothingness
of faith
and hope
and
love
c l couch
for Good (ironic) Friday
photo by Aleksei Agafonov on Unsplash
Quality of Day
We have the day
Is all
It seems
And it can be good
Or bad
Or
Like as not
Indifferent
But
If a day
It is a day that God has
Given
And toward gratitude
Behooving
Except on evil days
We think
When
Gratitude is due
But God must have understanding
For even the virtuous
To rail
Then after
Maybe during
All
The cries
When thinking to leave or
To have left
And if left
To be a delight
Upon
Returning
Maybe a prodigal
Maybe a simpler turning
To
Have come back
Then still
To have the day and in
One way or another
Have
Share
Maybe share joy
And
Thus
If in a small contributing way
The next
C L Couch
Photo by Paul Csogi on Unsplash
after the beginning end of the story
good wins
the evil loses
love has the chance
to win
even more that what was won
through the war
with evil
in peace we love
we have the chance to build
and everything that’s good
to grow
with evil gone
we might still have flaws
this
side of heaven with the better selves
there
and yet with flaws
well
we’ll make mistakes
even learn
openly
to tell a sin from a mistake
to understand an error
isn’t sin
but a part of anyone being human
even after
evil’s been defeated
and
good
shall be in charge
of us
c l couch
photo by Joyce G on Unsplash
Last Gray Day
Last day of gray
Someone
Says whose job it is to say
I guess
So maybe yellow tomorrow
Red
And orange
Burnt-umber crayon
Too
Though gray belongs
In autumn
In spite of its mood
By tone
Interesting
And
Cloudy days
Out back of fall
C L Couch
Photo by Fons Heijnsbroek on Unsplash
(x = space)
x
x
Pastures Green
x
We ask you
You are near
To take us with you
After
As you let us go
Before
With this strange back-and-forth
The holding
Letting go
For the between
x
The life we know
Best we can
Or may
Given potential
And our choices
Matter more
Until
They done
Evolving to obedience
Rejection
Nothing more
x
To train like angels
To rebel
Like angels
To resolve
The war in heaven
So that admittance
To the new Earth
Is allowed
x
A heaven
Made for one
Which was hell’s agenda
Now thrown open
Like windows
Upon spring
From mansions
To interpret
A party in the courtyard
With victory overwhelming
All remembrance
Love and food
For news
Living water all around
For
Life and safety
Wings and colors
All released
For good
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Immo Wegmann on Unsplash
x
The Green Pastures, a great movie, I recall (see it, hear it)
x
“pastures green” in the lyrics of “Brother James’s Air”
x
(x = space)
x
x
Maggs
x
Yesterday or recently
(depending on
the rate
at which cop blotters’
notes move on
to general news)
A boy
Who was 7
On a scooter
(child’s fit)
Treading the thing next
To his mother
Was hit by a truck
An NYPD
Tow truck
The driver on his cell phone
When it happened
x
This could be the news
Of the day
If we wanted things
This way
Then move on to pestilence
To wider crimes
To war
x
(sequel)
x
Is there more to say today
Beyond small tragedies
Small hopes
Perhaps
What happens if
Remediation
Anyone who seated at
Any round table
x
Good news
That’s strong and wide
And numerous
Throughout the world
We would talk about these
Too
x
(d.s. al coda)
x
There has to be the larger news
As well
That’s normal
Becoming all the media
In circles
I mean cycles
To see and hear
x
But sometimes
We keep it small
A fire here
Some thieving there
Small
Local tragedies
With ads surrounding
x
Maybe a fundraiser
For a smaller while
Highlighting
Human need
Addressed
x
It’s a mishmash
And
Yes
The larger
Overwhelms the smaller
(the whale that subsumes
the krill)
We might say
The way of the world
And who sets that way
The Earth
God
Or us
Or even us as
God’s
Program directors
x
Well
Signing off
Let’s find out
How things might be arranged
To settle heart and head
Into priorities
Of one day to the next
x
(now d.c.)
x
We must do the things
To do
Address the wicked
Heal the wounded
And remember
x
Remember Lewiston
Tree of Life
Parkland
Columbine
x
Elevate each spirit
In our minds
That has already gone to God
While our ongoing care
And remembrance
Go on
Here
x
And do we learn
Do we get better
Fuller
Sometimes
Sometimes it takes a trend
Some public outrage
Sometimes
Some public mourning
x
We can change
We can grow
What is the main thing
What are
Side things
Which is first
Then second
In our lives
x
How do we moralize
With wisdom
Restraint
Humbly working it out
As if about
To kneel
Before a divine
Committee
That keeps knocking
That keeps asking
x
(30)
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Mike Hindle on Unsplash
x
clcouch123 
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