have or have not
yesterday we have
in pieces
today is a whole thing
from now to now
confusion
when we’re tired
or bemused
notwithstanding
leaving the partial thing
like yesterday
tomorrow
also
in pieces of
guesswork
and expectation
well
the wind outside
is blowing thoroughly
on the branches
and I’m pretty sure
it’s cold
from the time
and the narrative
of
the season
what we have
is what we have
and what we know
we know
and I’m thinking that
control
profit
agendas
that are hidden
really don’t help this moment
that we have
and to expect
though it’s honestly a mystery regarding
next
but mysteries
have joys
if we allow
and maybe disallow
the heavy things
that
keep the letting go
down
and
down
as if
to Goblin-Town
or worse
only shadowy things for real
we think
we have to own
and wield
to own
c l couch
title swiped from Hemingway—an homage of, I mean—who might have swiped it—been inspired—from Ecclesiastes, Donne, or a sociologist
[sociology about the haves and have-nots]
yesterday’s image was of a bridge at or in New Orleans, picked because of the city and the recent tragedy occurring there (plus bridge as a metaphor)
photo by Jakub Żerdzicki on Unsplash
“Hand holding keys to a new house. Real estate residential.”
a mystery solved
(there are more puzzles so don’t worry)
no
not real enough
to say
try
new
old
there’s value in each
tradition
innovation
making
new
respecting old
and we should know
this is
the way that
things
that we
should go
mix
spill
fight
make up
difference
the same
respecting each
enlivening
the life
the upward gradients
also
frankly
the fun
who are we
anyway
we are cherished
and should cherish
as
obligation
work
and play
rest
and rise
to keep us
and to keep this world
until Earth B
and then
keep A and B
together
on their own
the way of children
and of
home
c l couch
photo by Rejaul Karim on Unsplash
a man buys food from street hawker
[photographer's caption]
Faith for All
What is the process
Of
Living for the Lord
What does that mean
How does it appear
Inside
To think and feel
Outside
To have evidenced
Or outside
The evidence
The risk of faith
Even
In relationships
We have
And want
To keep
A life
A good one
Peace and joy
Promised
If
With
At best
A para-understanding
Sigh
So much to know
And also
To un-know
Since it must be easy
After all
Thoughtful
But
Accessible
To all
C L Couch
Photo by Omer Salom on Unsplash
(x = space)
x
x
Mystery Breathing
x
I’m looking at my books
I think I really like
Mysteries,
Which is to say
Mystery
The numinous
The liminal
x
Could numinous
Mean pneumo-
As in breathing?
x
And more fancifully,
Myst-
As in fog
Though which
We go inexorably
As heartbeat
And do not know
What we’ll encounter
On the way?
x
I mean,
I like the plain thing
That Jane or Hercule
Must resolve
And I like the modern things
By James
Or Aaron, Charlotte
Elizabeth
P. D.
x
But there is the other thing that
Contents of books
Point to
Even to hold them
What’s in here?
Out there?
x
Scary stories?
Parts of them?
Without doubt—shouldn’t
Faith be scary as
It’s thrilling?
x
And then
The pattern seems to be
That all things
Will not be known
Until the end
With denouement to follow
If an epilogue
x
Then
We reach for another,
x
Which is why
We make a treasure-trove
Of libraries
Or simply having
Lots of books
That might be in forms
Of electrons
x
We are curious
We want to solve
Even as we
Want to be resolved
x
What are the greater mysteries?
How shall they end?
Maybe we should read together
Or at least
Discuss them
Piecemeal
On the way
All together
On the way
And over endings
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Arthur Oleynik on Unsplash
x
(x = space)
x
x
The Mix of Faith for Heaven
x
It is a mystery
And paradox
Thoughts
And feelings
Words for the hearts
Of millions
By each heart
Pierced
As a rule
x
Gospel for everyone
For one
For no one
‘Til engaging
We read
We hear
Interpret
(we’re allowed)
Good news about God
Having been
Set down
By people
In relationship
With God’s spirit
Making a kind
Of ersatz scribe
According to
The world’s
Expectations
x
Die to live
Love and take the hit
Joy in
Hard labor
Even for one’s enemies
The world wins
But does not really
Heaven after the end
And peace
Now
And forever
x
Though
In this life
Our flaws remain
And trip us up
And bring us down
And we
Are blamed
We blame ourselves
Though
Grace and mercy
Should attend,
Which is the holy law
But
Civilities
Must have their way
They often damn us
Excoriate
Our chances for changes
From
The first
After transgressions
x
Sigh,
Too many contradictions
Living near each other
In fact
Embracing
Over, under
Anywhere the breastplate says
For reassurance
x
A life of faith
Is hard
Easy
Soft
Rigid
Impossible
Demanded
Eternal
Fleshly
In each moment
Cells sloughed off
Like sin
Perhaps revealing
Virtue
In redemption
Should anyone on Earth
Have care
To notice
This
And those
While on Earth
Then disappear
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash
x
(x = space)
x
x
Reveals
x
I don’t know
It is a mystery
How we get
To where we get
We understand
Our choices
Ponder choices
Made by others
All around us
And what might
We figure?
What might we understand
Of agendas
Or of consequences?
Well, we’re here
We have what we have
And don’t know
What we don’t know,
Which is maybe why
Monks
And mothers
Other readers
(all receivers)
Enjoy mystery
x
If God is unknown
Then we are fine
Not knowing
Seeking answers
Or allowing
Un-answering
To guide our days
In relishing instead
The partiality
Of things we hold
Let go
Or appreciate
Even with longing
From afar
x
We have
And do not have
We wonder because
There are wonders
Such a life
Of having
And un-having
Knowing and un-knowing
We bear
And carry with delight
In curiosity
Answering in part
All awareness
Or simply going out
Or staying in
All the time
Then rest
Then go again
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Brandon Style on Unsplash
x
(x = space)
x
x
Yesterday’s Statistics
x
Only a few hundred died
From COVID yesterday
Only a few hundred
We must be getting better
And maybe we are
Except for the families
Friends and neighbors
Of a few hundred people
Who died from COVID
Yesterday
x
But who’s counting
The CDC is counting
WHO is counting
Sometimes it’s on the news
But even news programs
Want for ratings
Vie for them
x
One more day to help;
Live as if
x
As If
x
As if tomorrow is a question mark,
Which it is
As if love is uncertain
And life the mystery
With or without a number
As always
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Yuval Zukerman on Unsplash
x
(x = space)
x
x
The Tower Treasure
x
I live on the second floor,
No great height
Up from me is Tower Hill,
A name from history
Since there is no tower
That I know of
x
Wouldn’t it be romantic,
An adventure?
And for the Hardy Boys
And Nancy Drew,
Cherry Ames
And the Bobbsey Twins
(maybe somewhat
grown up
maybe)
Robbers hiding out
In said high place
With those who always
Want to find the ancient
Loot breaking in
From time to time
x
So that now everyone
Wants jewels of differing
Centuries
And there are flashlights
There are yet-to-be passages
To find;
There are guns
Because good stories
Mention risks
There are old stairs
And so much dust
And colonies of cobwebs
x
And in the nearly final act,
There is confrontation
Of all parties
With nearly everything
Discovered
Until the final trick
The heroes get to throw,
Distraction that gives
Time enough
For law enforcement
x
Then all friends
Meet in peace
Have snacks
At the place in town
Where all the young ones
Meet
To read the story
Above the fold and farther in
x
And we close the covers
(books and beds),
Pining for our treasures
x
Never
The end
x
C L Couch
x
x
If you would like to read about a treasure in one’s own town (a novel, I’m afraid), there is for children (of all ages) The Treasure of Alpheus Winterborn by John Bellairs. And many more such stories, I’m sure. Or you could write such a tale.
x
x
Mystery Unsolved
I don’t know what
I can come up with
Today
I’ve been looking for
A day off
And haven’t quite
Managed it
But we’ll see
I’m watching a mystery
Now, a good one
From a series that I
Like
British, not that the
British do the best,
Though they’re awfully
Good
Typically, the
Mystery is a murder,
Which is sad
Typically, the person killed
Is introduced
Villainous enough that
We don’t mind,
Though we might then be
Disposed toward
Sympathy for
The killer, which is
Something writers
I imagine
Keep in mind
While working all things
Out
I don’t know
I’ve written a couple
Of mysteries of
The two-minute kind
Mystery certainly is
A spiritual word
The foundation of
Our faith in a
Paradox,
Since faith is something
Clear in its conviction
But not so much
In content
It is the evidence
Of things unseen,
Which would go terribly
In court
Yet must be followed
For belief
And in that regard
Faith is gossamer
Not concrete
C L Couch
clcouch123 
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