how to have Christmas day
I don’t know how you’ll feel
about Christmas
you could be anywhere
your
people and tradition could be
any
and of value and
distinction
for having been made and now alive
on Earth by God
and by yourselves and for
you own
and if yours isn’t Christmas
you might
appreciate the sales
and on the way
attractive and in plaes extraordinary
arrangements of lights
for
the season
you might not be drawn
to those taking Christmas into politics
as
part of a campaign
to manipulate supremacy
a domination as an attitude
a strategy
to win
you may get
or have to live the irony
of the call of Muezzin over all the
lights and music
of
the Christian style
or where these are are small
you might enjoy
the paradox
of harmony
and similar traditions
calling
worship
and remembering that are not Christian
but noble
and valid as services
pursuits of God
and
at this time of year the overwhelming
might
be overwhelming
so maybe we could all
take on
humility
that ever newborn child possesses
restrain
in fact
if by amazement
our aggressions
and our violence
and notions of who’s best and
who
belongs
and who gets to survive
and let us all
regard us all
as worthy of the Lord
and
each other
whoever might be God today
the name
the following
and if we respect
and someday meet at a table
maybe
we’ll keep the harmony
the unity
with all the parts of who we are
and who you are
together
and that’s all
and wish for a happy Christmas day
where
that’s possible
aiming toward a better one
next
time if need be
and we could check on each other
for
tomorrow
not because it’s Boxing Day
but
because it’s any day
of those in traditions
and those owning
none
to love
each other
c l couch
photo by Matthew on Unsplash
Hanukkah by night
Hanukkah
by night
by days and nights
candles
prayers by song
and there are meals together
for
conversation
and there is play
it is the Temple miracle
eight lights
for
the time before supplies
arrived
and on their own
the lights
to sanctify
the space be sacrosanct
again
blue
silver
visits
dreidel
chocolate
and
a festive attitude
persisting all the week
and
why not
the love of God evident through
miracle
endowing the return
and
we could meet in Jerusalem
next year
c l couch
Photo by Katie Rainbow 🏳️🌈 on Unsplash--“A colorful nine-branched Hanukkah menorah, also known as a ‘Hanukkiah’. Handmade out of colored paper.”
in this late season
it is bright and
hot
yellow
emerald like Oz
dark branches hold up spring
fullness
blossoms’
debut
voices to whispers in the trees
dismal bouts are done for now so
that
the moon should look clear
in its expressions in
the night
c l couch
photo by Simon Berger on Unsplash
well wishing
(tossing coins)
I hope it is a good night
for you
if a dark night of the soul
a time with turmoil from confusion
or from fear
or from confusion’s fear
more hopefully
or maybe a time of easy rest through
the dark that could go
peacefully
to dawn
or whatever hour
serves
for rising as a new day
for you
however night goes
God is with you
with you
anyway
if
to think on our own failing
actions fixable
(they
are)
and sometimes lovable
from
endearing flaws
we are these wonderful mixtures
after all
are
we not
oh
and if working third shift
then I hope it’s
good rest for you by day
to have the hours
as
impulsive night
and night for all
its goodness
and its call to rest
to you
c l couch
photo by Luo JunHao on Unsplash
when I searched “sleep” and “night” and such for images, the searches came back with so many photos of cats—more than people, more than dogs—which says something about us, I imagine
fanciful yet intentional verses about night
vampyr
the life I live these days
as one
no sleep at night
but rather after dawn
insomnia
stress from above
the hours at night are clear
and
frankly
I want them
so no pointy things around me
please
I’m still so tired all the time
I’m sure I’d pierce some part of me
with those
at 11:11
a time for me and God
a time
that
God approves
a small thing between us
two
something the world shouldn’t
mind
or try to
take away
maybe you have your times
throughout the day
that
read specially to you and the one
protecting
all
our intimacies
evening drive
the rain is romantic
I can go by houses lighted for night
pretend the yellow lines are clear
drive past the occasional
driveway
sometimes pretending one
or another
could
be mine
c l couch
photo by Amir Borhan on Unsplash
the question of this evening
(responding to “Now the Day Is Over”)
evening draws nigh
the old song
imposes
for the song becomes
well
rather maudlin
melancholy
minimally
there is a prayer
and that’s fine
for Jesus to keep us through
the night
but
some will ignore
all this prayer
to fire up
the evening hours
instead
so lie low tonight
or charge
the time there is
to pub
and such
though morning comes
and with it
some responsibility
unless
retirement
has taken over
as an age
or
attitude
and then
what then
a song of peace
results in consternation
for there is much to figure out
by night
by day
rebellion
indifference
extremes cut through
by rest
c l couch
(the song often sung in my college chapel Sunday night—here, sorry, the assurance questioned
Now the day is over,
Night is drawing nigh,
Shadows of the evening
Steal across the sky.
verse 1)
photo by Joshua Sortino on Unsplash
“Sometimes you just have to look up.”
(caption given)
Black Hours
Black hours
Don’t have to mean
A dark night for the soul
Or for
Another part of
Self
An exclusive mediation
That must go
Sadly
Matched exhaustion
With frustration
Due to
Existential form
For
Sometimes
When I was done
With day
And daytime matters
Care for mother
And
Father-negotiation
With
House and home such-like
And also work outside
Of these
I could claim some
Time
And I was tired
I had some time
I took some time
And I was
Tired
Yet so many things
Were sunlit
Surface things were quiet
So
I could
Own
An hour or so
To sit and think
Like Pooh
Beside the jar
Or like the Satchel cat
That sits and thinks or sometimes
Only sits
C L Couch
Photo by Marten Newhall on Unsplash
The classic Dark Night of the Soul is a poem and also commentary by Saint John of the Cross.
gray time
it’s late
it’s fall
winter’s rise
a month away
the bears
have eaten salmon
I saw the camera’s highlights
of
bear
red flesh
and moving stream
taking
what is red
away
so now
the bears are done
(the
salmon gone)
and time for the
sleep
of a season
in the impulse of the bear
and the gray comes
earlier
should clouds
impede
a brilliance for a sunset
either way
and then
is
black-paned night
maybe
rest
regardless
after
hours
the next
the new day
c l couch
photo by Val Vesa on Unsplash
Sunset in Cluj, Romania
In Vigil Hours
Light and shadow
Move across the ceiling
We know this
In so many ways
By living near the street
Or with a passing
Storm
Or
Oh
So slowly
Moonlight moving in the night
Shadow and light
To make illusions with
Our help
While
We lie below
And
Frightened or inspired
Have the hours
Of night pass
C L Couch
Photo by Augustine Wong on Unsplash
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