a two-part matter of monsters
monsters
monster means something important
out for show
but we know monster
really
for ourselves and
also monstrous
connotation
and old scary movies
and before that
illustrations here and there on paper
though mostly
through
stories
the monster that we see outside
and
do not see
the gruntings or the screams we think we
hear
there is what goes into
and has always been
inside
the mind
monsters worse that in there
rise
sometimes in sleep
or we take them waking into
feeling
thinking
the spirit
the ego
our inner things fed one way or another
and then become
our conscious
if monsters not-consciously influence
‘til
they’re
known
maybe through counsel
maybe we learn to drag the beasts from
deep lurking
into a shallow sunlit place
where they
are known
and
let
awareness both appreciate as well as
eschew
all monsters
doubting
they do not go away
so we’ll pursue
and
come to know in unshadowed time
and circumstances
live with
then
the monstrous as
best
(not beast)
as we may
monstrous negotiation
maybe that’s how I’ll leave it
a discussion
for
the day
of what’s monstrous
what are the beasts that lurk away
or want
to invade
and also the shaded things
as creatures
that
we keep inside
the world
certainly can
be
a bestial place
look at D. C.
and also western Asia with points
west
and east
until except for penguin colonies
the Earth is subsumed
by
all the monster presences
and possibilities
and we think monster-hunting will
resolve
except the monstrous will not like it
and might attack
or simply
push
tall and deadly things from
the forests in
our way
the forest out there
and
of course
the woods in here
the fairytale monsters
point
toward us while
reading or
otherwise receiving
and while they
return
and so we have more stories
maybe there’s
a matter of negotiation
that
only lately
except for Androcles
the narratives are positing
that
we make friends
with dragons
and
so ask Saint George to consider new
pursuits
that we bargain with ourselves
as well
and the clawed and jagged creature-parts
dwelling
deep
but changing moods
and agendas near and over the surface
to outside
and
then each other
rather
to learn the monsters
that
we won’t need to feed them
they’ll be fine
and teach us in return
that what is
monstrous
needs no encouragement
but
in appreciation
then
of everything we are
chastened
we step into the waters of the world
all the currents
even
caves once knowing
what inhabits
there
in me
in you
so us
and in them
until the them be us as well
c l couch
photo by steffen wienberg on Unsplash
Whether Report
(3 November)
Early dusk
Because the hour changed
And did I have the hour
Last night
I couldn’t say
For lack of sleep
Regardless
An hour more
Of lack of sleep
That
Is falling back
The sky is pale
But then
I’m looking north
Little doubt
There’s yellow to the west
And lines of who knows what
More like autumn
Color
Maybe
It’s turning colder
We inside
Have been told
C L Couch
Photo by Mateusz Butkiewicz on Unsplash
Squatter’s Right
Sometimes
I am tired
Of being inside me
And I wish
I could be inside
Someone else
Which is a wish
I guess
In fact
To be
Someone else
Someone with fewer troubles
Or another set
At least
For interest
And maybe with resources
Inner and outer
Better to deal
From
Both places
Someone who’s with others
More
Who doesn’t have a solitary
Occupation
At least
Not so much
Who’s maybe traveled some
Beyond the Thoreauvian way
Who’s maybe
Been to Spain
Or the Bahamas
Maybe
To Ireland
I don’t know
And there are continents
Besides
Someone
Who’s much more comfortable
With the world
Than I’ve ever been
Who’s
Comfortable with clothes
And cars
And such
Who doesn’t mind technology
And doesn’t question everything
And there it is
The rub
The prick
The thing that brings up conscience
With the issue of
Allowance
Shucks
Back to where I am
Go through the eyeholes
Back inside
Deal with whatever
Through whatever senses
For
I cannot
Take the place of another
(theirs is due)
And I have to ask into
Everything I’ve listed
For a better life
And at what cost
Than what
I’ve had
Sigh
And there we are
And I am here
C L Couch
Photo by Alex Perez on Unsplash
(x = space)
x
x
Small, Insistent Formulae
x
Sigh
Let’s love
Love
And make it practical
I’ll carry this for you
You could make something
For me
x
Keep it civil
Better courteous
Keep respect
For remembrance
In our heads
Our chests
Wherever better spirits
Dwell
x
And sing for love
Upon our stages
Certainly
Inside our homes
And in any congress
We might have
Outside
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Larm Rmah on Unsplash
x
(x = space)
x
x
Don’t Remove This Label
x
I don’t want to reason
Only secularly
But I look where I am
And listen
x
In a long room
Whose beauty is beneath
Because the skin and other features
Are so poorly cared for
x
Which is to say
It’s old and could be good
But isn’t good
x
The noise of the world
Breaks in from above
And neither rule
Nor rent
Is cared about
x
Outside is a cold and pleasant day
At least to see
I see too much
And need to invoke
The other senses so much more
x
Drivers misbehave outside
Sometimes pedestrians
Though the thing about the outside noise
Is that it moves on
x
And I know
There are fires
That burn acreage
In a wild and awful way
And those who fight these flames
Are often hurt
And much is lost
Famously
In fires
x
And there is war I do not understand
And thank you I don’t want to
I’m sorry
But a bomb
Blasting away everything I know
And cuts away at me
By foes’ intent
I would be crazed
In every way
And to know the agency was human
Without randomness
For an agenda
x
And I know that states are falling
While brave people
Stand against
The evil reasons
And the power that, created good,
Is now corrupted
And maybe has been
For a while
But in a den bares now
Its blooded teeth
Behind a guard
That operates somehow
To keep the good ones from approaching
x
And I say it thus
With distance
Not that local evil
Hasn’t worked its way
Maybe the world
Learning of democracy
Is ruled by princes
After all
x
I simply want a quiet day
And promise of another
I want boredom
To be my awful challenge
And in this way I’ll try
To address the rest
I really will
From here
And now
x
You may decide what I am or
Most of you
Ignore me
And why not
Ignoring what
We need
To keep our naïve brand
In place
Like the labels on the furnishings
We do not tear off
Even though I doubt
The wars
Should care
x
I care
Not about that
But decades into this
I care
You might care as well
And more than me
Knowing better what to protest
What to fight for
x
Not to mention
I would rather be
Which makes everything more difficult
With you
Attached
Rather than against you
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Thomas Dumortier on Unsplash
x
(x = space)
x
x
Tontines
x
Good morning, Monday
And to all of you
I hope the weekend brought some pleasure
Some enjoyment
That lives inside
Your living, now
I hope that Tuesday’s grand as well
But today is today
I’d like the present moment
The next present moment
To be good for you
As if there were a promise kept
By forces unseen
Or heard
But sometimes felt like
Two-way touches in the wind,
Smelled and tasted, too
Like Sabbath-keeping
Or peace in
An hour of prayer
A walk inside a forest
Or the palace of the mind
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Martin Adams on Unsplash
While visiting the Gaitor site in India’s pink city (known for its pink mud walls), we came to a temple with beautiful, carved figures. Noticing the birds, I took my camera and all of sudden a whole group of them leapt into the sky.
x
(x = space)
x
x
A Human Gift
x
God smiles on a Saturday
The human invention
Of a weekend
An extra day for homework
Sleeping in, perhaps
Housecleaning
Or play
x
It’s a gift we gave ourselves
Along with ending child labor
In “Satanic Mills”
And the imposition on the profit-makers
Of an eight-hour day
For manufacturing iron and steel into
Gold and empire,
All of which happened
With agrarian losses
And also serfs and lords
In the old system
Classes turned into attitudes
x
It’s more complex, of course
But doesn’t bear a quiz
This is the day we have
(not everywhere)
An extra day for homework
Sleeping in, perhaps
Housecleaning
Or play
x
C L Couch
x
x
“Jerusalem,” a hymn, words by William Blake
x
Photo by K. Mitch Hodge on Unsplash
Let’s play fetch!
x
Step Sessions
We have a journey to go on
Called today
I don’t know how many steps we’ll take
Maybe we’ll travel like Thoreau
Considering the cosmos in a walk to town
Maybe one place will be literal
The other living
Where stars are born
The nebula inside
Cradles of thought
To set us on our way
Until the dark of night brings out the offspring
Literal nebulae
A star for each thought born out there
A universe of mind, as it may
Marking a journey
Like our own,
Roaming energy
Through two sets of cells
Two trips going inexorably
No competition needed, no going to war
We can have quiet or make noise
Any media for growth
Though I will say
Maybe going gently’s not so bad
In a night of stars
As thoughts and ours
How many steps a journey?
Some might want
To know,
Which is okay
Let the universe and us
Decide
C L Couch
“Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night” by Dylan Thomas
Photo by Aldebaran S on Unsplash
Heart Nebula
Peace for All Time
(a three-part cycle)
1
Machine Language
Each moment’s a decision
To exhale,
To circulate some blood
To let the body stir for a while longer
To let the synapse burn
Brightly with mind-fire,
Transactions between what’s happening
And memory
Much of this is done for us
But there’s a partnership, I think
Between all parts
The automatic will take over for
The temporary
When immediacy of thought and movement
Are tired out
Call it sleep
Call it the second cup of tea
Taken on the porch
When for a time there’s nothing else to do
And this has been invoked
Because needed,
The ending of which we’ll debate
Peace an invention,
A transaction
Between all partners
Serving on the inside
2
Contrition
I won’t take it back
Not yet
I need to know the outcome,
Did I get anything I wanted
If penance is a prayer,
I’ll do my part
If it’s in bad feeling,
I’m already there
And counting
A return to normalcy
And what is that
It takes me out of this
Otherwise, I want
The special moments back
But it’s the future, now
Plu-imperfect
Please
Say them with me, maybe
All the prayers,
Then let’s move on
3
The Answer Is in Someone Else as Well
Inner peace
That’s cool
It’s not enough
If I’m in my chrysalis
And have no sight of yours
Or time
Where is my peace
If not in you?
This is cheating an invocation,
For it’s not a talk to God
But to you
The one nearby
And not inside
We need transaction, too
And more
You need to carry me
And I a part of you
A magic story in which twins
Keep a gem lit by the light force
Of the other
And there’s responsibility
In our story,
We will partner differently
That is, for real
Not to prevaricate conditions
But to say push on
Make peace because
We know each other now
To arbitrate
And there’s no other way
To build the day
That each must have
Into a present contract
As the future
C L Couch
Photo by Jarrod Reed on Unsplash
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