nature

two poems, below, one poem prompted by a photograph, both on the theme of freedom, maybe grace

imagine this
but don’t do at home or at the zoo

a lion in a cage
or any creature that have tooth or claw
or open
with
the cage left open or maybe having
broken without knowing
over time

and to be near
there is great fear of
our own
lives
beholding

yet also the delight in
nature freed
in
witnessing extraordinary muscle
from
impulse

picture of a fox
with thanks to Alexander Sinn

this might have been outside my door
it wasn’t
but how wonderful

an inquiring look
a standing on all four

all grace
not knowing any other

gold colors
against gray
if
gray is useful
shading black and white

though in green
or on an earthen plain
the
surprise
the stunning character of life
that’s not our own
but
serves
as the fox gives
of
its own heart without awareness

c l couch

photo (fox) by Alexander Sinn on Unsplash
n.b.—sorry, I don’t know how to insert a photograph, only add (one) feature image

photo (lock) by Marcelo Bassi on Unsplash
n.b. 2—cages are being turned over, or not have been built, in favor of more open enclosures and parks (we could say habitats)

good

God is good
and
gives us good
and teaches us as well

for in
everything might be a lesson
of its own purpose
and
to promote a making thus
a maker

so then nature as gospel
its
good news
in and of itself

though
sometimes it should
appear and feel
and is
indifference

and
what shall be learned
by
scouring tragedy
except to know

that loss
seems to prevail but
by calm days and
seasons
for new growth
does not overwhelm forever

c l couch

Walden by Thoreau appeared on 9 August 1854

photo by Lee Jeffs on Unsplash

wet day unterrible outside

the dropping points of willow green
drip into gray
rendering the name of tree
worthwhile
a good name if metaphor
if anthropomorphizing
making
people out of trees
not by Ovid’s recollection
working
rather by our skill at changing
the tree into person
not the sap
but
tears that weep

the willow is Old Man
the trees throw apples
‘cause
they’re cross with the travelers to
Oz

and so in our wonderlands
we make more
of what we sense
from
ordinary
so that there’s more insightful
and triumphant
to wonder in
the land

if
crying
angry natures
to encounter

c l couch

(us from fatherland, more often motherland)

photo by S L on Unsplash

prompt that was illusion
illusion into prompt

I looked at this
and saw
a stone valley
with fossils of an oasis
skeletons
or
trees

and it’s a close-up of
the elephant
eye
in the center
and have we noticed how
lovely are the curves
of
eyelashes

gray
lines
curved
and some seem broken
maybe that is age
or
by design or how age
is designed

a marvel of reality
made for itself
and
for our wonder
if
we may impose the will of
the designer

and as I might see so well
and
given to touch instead
I’d have a part in that old story
I
suppose
of
how is the pachyderm
depending
on the senses and conclusions of
beholders

c l couch

(actually, I was looking for a picture of a boat when I was struck by enigma of the photo above)

photo by Wolfgang Hasselmann on Unsplash

it’s a lovely day
gray if dull by promising
should the heart select

two enormous birds
predators of tan and brown
over the perished

nature doesn’t judge
often the quake or flood by
our instigation

amoral nature
save that flora and fauna
anywhere might weep

participation
nature allies death with life
relents the day’s night

creative life calls
work and play quotidian
sponsor something more

progress of haiku
no more than eased scenes required
nature bears wisdom

c l couch

a kind of progress beginning with looking outside (each should stand on its own as well)

photo by Manish Shah on Unsplash

a series of haiku in which nature is partnered with religion

devotion has it
we should love the Earth as God
has made all wondrous

breathing in and out
some days it’s hard for nature
thick by pollution

white and pink blossoms
Japan gives us cherry trees
to bloom in D.C.

shall the Earth give back
opens not what we deserve
receiving seasons

all the problems here
co-op of virtue and fall
first to third chapters

praying goes to God
not thought but by intention
doubt also received

responding to Claudius in Hamlet at 3.3.97-98

c l couch

photo by Yan Liu on Unsplash

above the abbey
Tintern or Gethsemani
by nature drafting

c l couch

“Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey, On Revisiting the Banks of the Wye during a Tour. July 13, 1798” by William Wordsworth

photo by Mitchell Schleper on Unsplash
Abbey of Gethsemani, Trappist, United States

	Vidisha Mitra on hundreds of words
	Vidisha Mitra on across the state from us
	Vidisha Mitra on red goes inside green
	Vidisha Mitra on sing them over
	Mollie Player on across the state from us

clcouch123

I talk you talk we'll talk

Tag

on the theme of freedom

spirit-taking

good

impulsive nature

wet day unterrible outside

prompt that was illusion

who and how decide

haiku regarding nature and religion

above the abbey

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