the better college time
Sunday afternoon
was
followed by the evening
in the chapel
and
we would in the choir sing and then
haul ourselves down
front
for the sermon
and
then would sing again
everyone
we all
took part
and there was a song
we sung
while the church organ vibed beneath
and the song
was
telling us
that some things like this day were
done
and out into the air
back to
our dorms
as
quickly to forget
and worry like wool being
our worries
we tried nonetheless to work for
Monday
if
unprepared
and should come regardless
yet the better words
than
stress alone
now
the day is over
night is drawing
nigh
shadows of the evening steal
across the sky
I’m sorry you can’t hear the tune
until you can
but
there are words
and grammared nicely
if
and as reordered
above
and
(yet)
reading these even just now
might
take you into night
its and our assurance
of
the night
c l couch
photo by Daniil Silantev on Unsplash
listening up
God be with us
daytime
into night and as the hours pass
the arrival
of the twenty-sixth
still August
still serving the vanity of
Augustus
and
these were gods in Rome
and you are God
everywhere
in every age
not
wanting to disrespect
but really
it is you
one God who made all of Earth
and Earths
yet
remain yourself
the same
the one
who I think will talk with us more
as we prepare
to listen
more than ears
a little theory
mostly
practice
c l couch
photo by Jan Sents on Unsplash
replacing a cell phone in 2025
(to my family first and then the artifact)
hi
my replacement phone is on the way
I wasn’t sure if had paid the insurance on the phone I had
(now run over)
but I had
I couldn’t access my account at first because they wanted to send a verification text
to the phone that’s smashed and splintered and (thus) no longer working
but there was a phone number that I called
and I spoke with a real person
who asked me for a PIN I didn’t know at first
and I tried a couple numbers in my head
and one of these numbers worked
then it was confirmed for me (by the real person) that I had indeed paid the
insurance
and so could get a new phone
for which I was given new numbers to try
phone number of the insurance company for the cell company
some sort of activation number
the number to call back once I had the replacement phone
on line again
I filed the claim
and now am assured (electronically) that a new phone is on the way
I might have considered an upgraded model
but received no enticement to that effect
and so
I’ll have the same kind and model of cell phone again
I’ll let you know when my mobile number should be working again
thanks
christopher
photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash
To the Dark Towers Came
The news said
that
a private plane
had hit
one of the towers
of
the World Trade Center.
I felt awful for
the pilot
and the passenger.
I had to get to school.
I listened
to the radio
on the way. The news
was
still confused.
I got
to school and walked from
the car to the building
where
the classroom was. I
entered
the room to find
the TV on,
everyone staring. Then
I found out
what happened,
that
the towers were gone, one
tower then
the other.
The planes were
jet liners. Commercial
planes.
Hundreds of folk
were
running toward
the site
to try
to rescue thousands.
No doubt
these responders looked
up
to see
the buildings there,
made of air
and memory.
C L Couch
Photo by In Memory of Yan Ji on Unsplash
(x = space)
x
x
Narrative for Veteran’s Day
x
I hope the veterans
Have a good day today
They served
Time to be serving them
Certain restaurants
Will do that literally
(track the ads)
x
There was a draft
I was in school
A war for oil fomenting
As if primordial
Muck were heating
In the gulf
(not that war
in the gulf
or the next one)
There was an energy crisis
Hiding profits
x
I didn’t want to fight
For companies’ oil
But when on the application
I was asked
If there were anything I would fight for
I had to answer yes
And so ruin the deal for c-o
And the draft board changed
My status
(they won’t admit to punishment)
From 1-H to 1-A
x
Well, that war didn’t start
There were numbers
But no draft
I finished school
And then the next one
And with Watergate
Had reasons to feel bitter
Toward my government,
Which since then
Has become increasingly
Stupid and useless
x
But love of country
All the stickers
All the posters
The Bicentennial
If we forget who is in charge
There are superlative reasons
To be serving
And they have served
Time to be serving them
x
My brother
And my father
And my grandfathers
Came back
My friend Patricia
Returned, retired
A full colonel
x
There are those
The many, many those
Who did not return
And have their days
And who cannot remember them?
Anytime and every time
We should?
x
Red poppies will festoon
And sides of buildings carry
Words of verses
“In Flanders Fields”
And that is London today
Here there will be flowers, too,
And flags
And I hope everywhere
That she has served
And he
And they
And all the fields
Nourished by remembrance
With all the hopes
And wishful strategies
To change
x
C L Couch
x
x
carrying the burden of a nation
Photo by Joel Rivera-Camacho on Unsplash
U.S. Marines with Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, conduct vehicle recovery drills on Camp Pendleton, California, Apr. 6, 2021.The Marines of Motor Transportation Platoon pride themselves not only on their vehicles, but on each Marines’ hard work, dedication, and drive to excel in all they do.
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Fallbrook, United States
x
(x = space)
x
x
Weather Permitting
(in pandemic time)
x
The texts say
I have a doctor’s appointment
Tomorrow
A fedora of adventure,
Anymore
I’ll go,
If the car is working well
Enough (been turning
rough, lately)
x
And should there be snow
Or rain or ice,
I’ll go as carefully as I can
If the street is clear enough
And the car isn’t
Covered over
Too much
x
You see, the second
Winter skyfall
Of the season is
Predicted later today
Tonight
Into the morning hours
x
Say I get there
I’ll need marching orders
For masking, distancing
Simply to go inside
x
Then there’s the reason
Hopefully, I’ll have
A list
I’m hoping, really,
That we’re meeting
Over vaccines
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Jason Jarrach on Unsplash
x
All Souls Narrative
Picnics by the graveside, skull candy, many
lights inside the darkness, families
remembering
the dead who live again in heaven always
and with us here just now in our memorial
ways; if
family outings can be sacred, then this
is it.
There was a small cemetery across
the street from where I lived; I would
walk there and once
enjoyed a staring contest with a deer.
We’d look; whoever took a step toward
the other, the other would move back:
an hour of this, and we were done.
On another night and once a year, respectful
people would show up to place a candle
on each stone; this was
unofficial yet quietly and happily done—a
day of the dead
for the living.
There was music, too.
The deer would object, I’m sure, the
flames, the crowd, the noise
however small, and all; but
Deer has all the forest behind
and, I’m sure, its own way
of remembering, as I
remember her
in the days I have until remembrance
will be for someone else.
C L Couch
clcouch123 
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