the USA penny
(for Lincoln’s birthday on the twelfth of February)
it is our first coin
it is ubiquitous
it is
of course
an honor
that goes both ways
in that
we might be honored to
carry him
say
in a purse or
in a pocket near the hip
or thigh
and should we
change
well
our change
when we’ve decided that we
don’t have to say
ninety-nine to avoid
calling
the next dollar up
maybe
the penny will go out
to the darkness
on the pages
inside
of
numismatists
we’ll carve his imagine onto
a greater coin or
print him
on a bill of altitudinous
value
or find
some way
still everywhere to have him
near
remembering
by what credit he may
own
(and
does)
the nation that
should be
ours
all
of ours
all
and so maybe toward
a virtuous
such an integral
legacy
as well
c l couch
photo by Acton Crawford on Unsplash
penny floor tiling at the Maven Hotel
Denver, Colorado (USA)
yesterday I posted a poem for Presidents Day (USA), which for some reason I thought was yesterday and not a week from then; well, if you’re looking for something for the day, now you’ll be ready—and sorry
12 February 2024
today is
Lincoln’s birthday
as I recall
most years
uncongealed
from the
single
Presidents Day
and
yes
ten days from now
is Washington’s
Lincoln was
from Kentucky
as was I
though much taller
when he grew
much taller
about everything
adding that hat
for greater
height
he split rails
the kind for fences
I believe
maybe to be ready for
a fenced-in nation
he took us
through the worst
making mistakes
I’m sure
and losing children
maybe
tens of thousands
of these
whose names
might as well have been
Edward
William
Thomas who went by
Tad
the ones who died then
and the others
later on
as
a tragic legacy
and in two days we’ll celebrate
romantic love
which has me recall
the story of
how Lincoln first encountered
Mary Todd
saying he’d like to dance
with her
in the worst way
and then
proceeding to prove that
and she endured
poorly
as the war happened
and then
once it was over
she lost her family
viscerally
terribly
one child remained
as company
for her
remaining days
the President would turn
215 today
which means
he wouldn’t
but in remembrance
where his years
as in heritage
are eternal
he made mistakes
I’m sure
but he was whom
we needed
for splitting fences
in and of
themselves
the biggest
worst metaphors
barriers
having been made
by slavery
with other interests
from the states
that having been decided
in a sibling war
could turn out be
the U.S.A.
a single entity
imperfect
but so far indivisible
again
c l couch
photo by Ron Graham on Unsplash
(x = space)
x
x
Chalk Calculations on the Head of a Shovel
x
Sunday
Is Lincoln’s birthday
I like this guy
Though I probably
Don’t know why
And don’t know enough
Why maybe
I should not
x
What I know
Is that he was born
In Kentucky
(me, too)
And he grew tall
(not me)
And had a sense of humor
(played pranks)
And could split rails
And was a failure
At nearly anything he tried
Except
The holding of one office
To which he was elected,
The one and he
That we remember
x
Republicans
Were upstarts then
And maybe have their best
In their first
‘Cause he was pretty good
Flawed
Perhaps greatly,
Haunted
By the losses
In his family
And in the losses in
The nation’s family
x
He was a kind of
Savior to that nation
In a conflict
That many folk
Did not take too seriously
Taking picnics
Borne in carriages
To watch the battle like
Watching
A tournament
x
And then the bullets
And the missiles
Spoke to say
There is no recreation
And four years later
(every war is Pyrrhic)
Everyone who breathed
Said for themselves
And for everyone
No longer drawing breath
This is enough
Let’s have an ending
To the ruinous process
We drew upon ourselves
For growing up
A country
Four years
As an age
x
He freed the slaves
Many people freed the slaves
Among them slaves
x
The many battles,
Wounds and deaths
Disease
Formulative scars later
And the war
Was over
Save the carpetbagging
And the agonizing irony
Of Reconstruction
x
But first
By the assassination’s bullet
He was removed
From everything we know
And might improve
x
Johnson tried
But was impeached
Though not convicted
And was left
To practice
What we recall as an ineffectual
Administration
x
The remains
Of Abraham
Were taken from the capitol
To Springfield
For burial
While we’ve had nearly
Eight-score years
To count his steps
And missteps
But he was carried
And placed over stone
And under earth
For silence
x
And shall we say he’s great?
Greatness is
On the inside
Of a life
And then through what is done
And if we can reason there
We may only with
Minimal compunction
Call him great
x
Once we have decided,
We should relate the news
To the President
Maybe
Before his tomb
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Unseen Histories on Unsplash
x
(x = space)
x
x
Smart People Eschew Politics
x
It is said
I’ve cited this before
That smart people
No longer run
For anything in politics
They are repulsed
They are not chosen, anyway
The crisis is
Bipartisan
The last smart person said
Was Adlai Stevenson
Who is before my
Voting time
x
Labels don’t count
(smart is as smart does)
Neither degrees
Nor Rhodes
Nor anything metal
Or on paper
(smart is as smart does)
x
Let the intelligence in
Again
(not referring to spies
you know that)
With some reach toward relevance
Un-degreed
Degreed
Either, more, less
I hear smart is as smart does
Journey to Hodgenville
To start
x
Where someone looked up
At the stars there,
Too
x
C L Couch
x
x
Direct image of a supermassive black hole at the core of Messier 87.
x
(x = space)
x
x
The Haunted Man
x
It’s Lincoln’s birthday
Kind of a palindromic date
This year
(twos and ones)
He was born the way
I learned in school
And reading Classics Illustrated comics
x
There was a three-sided house
He was named for his grandfather
He studied by the fire
And later used his height
For playing pranks
x
He failed at most everything
Took part in debates
Got elected enough
To be elected for a final thing
x
He was from Kentucky
Then Illinois
Then Washington,
The District of Columbia
Where he died
x
His remains are buried back
In Springfield, I believe
And in the dust of bones
And blood
The ashes of war
Inside every part
Of the nation
x
C L Couch
x
x
Alexander Gardner – Library of Congress, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25238743
Lincoln in February 1865, two months before his death
X
Today Is the Birthdate of Abraham Lincoln
Today is the birthdate of Abraham Lincoln.
Born in a three-sided cabin. Named for his
Grandfather, killed in a struggle with
Indigenous people. Abraham (the second)
Grew tall, used his height to play pranks on
His mother. Used to do math calculation
By the fire. Grew up, tried many things.
Such as storekeeper, postmaster. Failed at
Them all. Did learn to split wood for rails.
Did pass the bar (a win or failure still to be
Determined). Spent his childhood in Kentucky,
Not so far from Louisville. Then went to
Illinois, Springfield. Joined a law practice
As a junior partner. Ran for public office. Lost.
Somehow became a candidate in the new
And upstart (liberal) Republican Party.
Possessed an eloquence none could fathom
But all (most all) respected. Maybe breathing
Air above the rest was an assist. This is the
Thing he won, became our sixteenth
President. And the best. We know what
Happens next.
There is a terrible war. He guides us through.
He dedicates a cemetery with 270 words
(Thereabouts) that come to shiver the whole
World. For many reasons, he declares
Black slaves free, something the founding
Leaders of the nation could not or would not
Do. He leads into victory. He orders “Dixie”
To be played by his band upon the White
House lawn.
He wanted to heal the nation. He never got
The chance. Surely, goodness and mercy
Follow and attend him. And he, if any, dwells
In the house of the Lord.
C L Couch
Abraham Lincoln at the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Lincoln is slightly left of center, just behind the mass of blurry people, facing the camera, head slightly down and tilted to his right (camera left).
David Bachrach – This image is available from the United States Library of Congress’s Prints and Photographs division under the digital ID ds.03106. This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons: Licensing for more information., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5127661
Lent 33
Gray light filters through
A window pane that should be cleaned
For spring
Porous curtains reach to the floor
The house is yellow
There is a Lincoln emblem on the front
This is where I live
Welcome
You live somewhere else
I hope it is a good place for you
If not, I hope that changes
I hope that you are well today
If not, I hope that changes
The season turns toward conclusion
We didn’t make that happen
We didn’t even have to count
So many things inexorably
So many things we change
If we can,
If we want to
Maybe what you have is good
I’d like to think so
Though I know too many patterns that
Imprison and a lack of catalyzing
Will
Maybe this has been a waiting time
There are several days left
Maybe you’re learning to
Lengthen your breathing in one way
Or another
Maybe you can count
And it doesn’t keep you in
Maybe freedom with rules
Is understood, at last
These passages are ours, you know
As all seasons that we have
Belong to us
We could turn the circle over
Beholding nothing that we own
As well
That’s all right
We know what we can take
It’s not much
And it’s the most important
Have what we have
And enjoy the passing
C L Couch
Muhammad Mahdi Karim – Own work, GFDL 1.2, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=13092558
A dhow in the Indian Ocean, near the islands of Zanzibar on the Swahili Coast.
clcouch123 
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