a billion's one
cheering up
I’m watching Santa claim that
and then provide
for the children in a town
a neighborhood
where
it’s easy for children to go unnoticed
when grownup heads are set
too high
and there things like gentrifying that
compete with
cheer
and children
until now homegrown
and so problems
and solutions applied
locally
where all ages have lived
and want
to live
and if we say
thee is a holiday spirit
and an intention
for one day
and if
we
mimic
starting in October if
not August
might we not consider genuine
which might sound saccharine
to say
except in addition to old
neighborhoods
to
venerate
there are atrocities to consider
everywhere
have
you read about the killings in Sudan
or
do you know in the USA
how many will go
hungry
tonight
meaning to question whether
nuclears or
profiteering generally
is
all to count worth while
or is each one
viable
not as a cardboard target but
as really what
we’re made
of
we hear of hundreds
that are killed by
nature or
by us
and the tolls go into recent thousands
and by the end of term easily
a million
tracking COVID
say
unless you conveniently misbelieve
do you know how many
are in
needs
try
one
it’s one
all the billions make up one
that we can
know
and be
and help with practicality
and love
c l couch
photo by Efe Yağız Soysal on Unsplash
I look at this and see a big red hat (trimmed white) that’s shaking out snowflakes through a winter sky, while it’s more practically an overhead (drone?) image of a place along a coast in Türkiye. (Me not the photographer talking.)
fixin’s
there is war
there is disease
there is famine
there is drought
that causes
famine
though despots
are as likely
if not more
to bring on hunger
in the folk
like you and me
there is corruption
beyond the natural
(though
we waste
enough)
there is the irony
on a blue world
of not having safe water
guaranteed
anywhere
thanks to our being here
the
poisoning residents
so war
disease
hunger
famine to hunger
lack of safe water
despots
and corruption
which is before the count
the destruction
caused by nature
that we call
our mother
time to time
raging as well
under Great Spirit
who must weep in bouts
while spelling anger
how we melt
the valleys
that his hands
pressed and made
mother nature
father spirit
(or
switch the genders
or
add to them
certainly)
leading the cosmos
and our lore
about the cosmos
and whom do we respect
what
to we respect
there’s self-respect
and what do we do
with that
other-respect
perhaps
though mostly as a type
I think
so good that we can envy
or so bad
we can relate
and so vote for
well
these are our problems
aren’t they
and listing them
might help
but as
or followed by
a plan of action
certainly
and not let sado-masochism
make our only world
for habitation
no
we can do better
I am sure
and you are sure
and when we’re sure
we’ll reach out
in spirit
and in flesh
to make it better
make the wounds better
like parents
with Band-Aids
small doses of antiseptic
under
small kisses above
then really get
to work
to make the world
cleaner
through and above
well
everything
not a purge
(never a purge)
but
to fix
and rebuild
then to design above
something to say
and fairly
journey
on to other worlds
c l couch
photo by Nicolas Gras on Unsplash
(x = space)
x
x
Yet Another Pledge
x
Enough money
For food
That’s what she says
And the spokesperson
Iterates
Enough money indeed
Food insecurity
We call it
Issue-words for hunger
I suppose
And do we understand
Who needs to understand
How it is
To miss the money
That our planet should provide
Since birth
x
For us
Perhaps
A tissue argument
So thin
To be unreal
Like the gossamer wings
On made-up creatures
Though this hunger
Is for real
And threatens to take lives
And takes them
And this forestalls that
Worked somehow
To succeed
For under twenty dollars
Each
And there’s a t-shirt
That
No one can eat
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Jeison Higuita on Unsplash
x
(x = space)
x
x
Passion Thursday
(Maundy Thursday)
x
1
I am poor
I would love to be invited
To supper with Jesus
Because I’m hungry
And sometimes I am afraid
For food
I’m sorry
I want to hear the story
But all I can hear
Is on the inside, now
Maybe afterward
Or during
It’s rotten evangelism,
I guess,
On my part
Wanting the real food, first
Yes, there is a question
Of what’s real,
I’m certain
But feed with food, please,
First
Then I shall listen
To anything
Especially the truth
Sorry for the truth in
A yowling stomach,
In an actual meal
x
2
Who knows where they were
Or how many
What they ate,
If it was a meal of tradition
Or what was at hand
The way a meal is sometimes,
Checking our cupboards
And the refrigerator
Looking at the oven
Being hopeful
(hopeful people
hopeful oven)
x
Was Mary there?
Were any of the Marys there?
Not to serve but to take part
In equal parts
With the rest?
x
And why did Jesus call it new?
A new commandment
That was ancient,
Love one another
Exodus and Deuteronomy
Along with whose house
Shall we serve
And how
x
What might be new
To me
Was to call them friends
Upgrade from disciples
Friends
A loving term
x
Maybe the love of God
Between people and God
Was renewed
There was a person saying
You can know this God this way
You don’t have to wait
For the appointed time
The proper time
Is now
Kairos
Along with chronos
Love God anytime
As if at table with you
All of you
Any of you
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Hennie Stander on Unsplash
x
(x = space)
x
x
How We May Live
x
It’s all right
We don’t have to agree
To have a family
Or a nation
The world is filled with
Variance of thought,
And opinions bleed
And stay still
Like colors
And affiliations
Of the rainbow
x
Democratic theory says
That you and I
May argue toward no
Solution or a change
Today or ever
x
And democratic practice is
Even better,
For you and I may feed the hungry
And encourage those
In all kinds of trouble, all
The same
x
We both and together
May fill bags
With sand along
The growling, killing river
As we (after washing) may
Dispense soup
To the rescued
x
This is how to live
With variation
And to live with variation
Active in
Needs that are subsuming—those
Of the hungry or the flooded or,
After fire, the singed
x
Arguing the other situations
When we may breathe
Again with clarity
x
Happy days
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by David Clode on Unsplash
Olive oil on water. “Immiscible 1”. The photo is called immiscible because oil and water don’t mix. The background colours come from a painting behind which is titled “Joy” and is itself bubble shapes like balloons of cheerful colours, where I have tried to express the emotion of joy in a painting, much like Mark Rothko.
x
Something Is Going to Happen
Something pleasant
For a change
Something with a little spice
A little love
Things that try to set the tone
Are doing so by doling fear
Anger, hate
Too easy an agenda
Hiding other interests
While we’re distracted
Time for some calm
With which to see the emperor or wizard
I don’t mean CBD
Though that might be interesting
I was thinking maybe
Meals
And walks after
Feeding all types of needs
In consideration
And respect
Maybe we’ll find out that we like each other
And if not
We’ll have had the meal and the walk
Food and easy exercise
And did I mention who’s invited?
Everyone on Earth
C L Couch
photo by Arisa Chattasa on Unsplash
rainbow snack on hot pan
Rebroadcast
(keep trying)
I’m sorry for the fire
Sorrier for all the hungry people
Were the lady to advise us
Though worship is important
Starving is not conducive
There is no medieval lumber
Tall enough to do the job
Of the first beams
That is fine, we can go with something
Like aluminum
That will not rust or
Easily catch fire (again)
But organic need cries out
Toward another kind
Of construction
Empty people
Feed us
What shall we say,
There are too many now
And now there will be many more?
Maybe we need to reach up
Further than vaulting
Ingenious plans
Already on the table
We have the means for everything
Tall churches, too
Because we won’t have Paris
Not all of us
What shall we have?
I think you know by now
Ages of temperament
And we are less impaired
Have garnered so much more
The answer in the
Question
When we ask
You know it starts with will
You know everything worthwhile
Begins and ends with shall
Then will
C L Couch
Photo by TAN Erica on Unsplash
Early-Morning Nightmare
(journal, 31 January 2019)
I had a dream this morning that was difficult.
I was at a school I’ve been before.
There were people there,
but the overall feeling was impersonal and unfriendly.
I had finished with my errand there, and was looking for the car.
I was in an open staircase next,
up several stories and not enjoying the height.
Nearly down, I came upon a starving child.
The child was is real,
there were yellow sores,
the child looked at me. I had nothing,
I walked by.
Then there were more children to see, near me and off toward the building.
All were seated cross-legged,
dark, small, open mouths, eyes—irises—covered over in viscera.
Gaping need.
Too weak for crying or much movement at all.
The children
sat and, as I neared,
looked at me.
I guess it was a nightmare. Except
that there is such need in the world.
I am having breakfast now, continental-style.
Croissants and coffee.
How guilty should I feel?
I need to eat. I need to drink and
for now can afford to have and make coffee. Maybe
the children would like me to be starving, too, for company.
But I think the focus is on getting fed.
(now, drafting)
Their focus, tragically hard to say because they could not see, is on getting fed.
C L Couch
Photo: FMSC, Creative Commons BY 2.0
(at) https://unu.edu/publications/articles/taking-hunger-out-of-equation.html
Taking Hunger Out of the Poverty Equation
2015•09•10
clcouch123 
Recent Comments