orange

Tennessee’s Bell Buckle and a child on Christmas day

an
orange
some
walnuts
could be
pecans
and I imagine looking toward a barn
and once the chores
to look in peace
special
that day

scrubby fields
maybe
snow-covered
house the way houses are in that
part of the region
and
the nation
in the standings
in the time

is there room
in the house
in the barn
over
the fields

for hope
for moving away should there be the slightest more

one year
and
having grown
to do so

c l couch

briefly about my mother who grew up as a child not of but in the Depression

photo by Markus Petritz on Unsplash


four more-or-less October poems (three poems narrative while one verse plaintive)


who takes the autumn time

fall
and I’m not ready
too cold too
fast
so
where were the colors
coming over weeks
as hot moved to cool
then to cold only at night
for
a while
yet
look at me
hear me
complaining
while
it was in the eighties well into
October with random
reason
or Earth turning
for all the heat returning
but frankly
the trees look like veterans
of the wasted early
season
green leaves with withered edges
an attempt at red now brown
meaning
late fall by climate change
and should we peak in wizened fall
from trees worn out by
normal waiting
for
the riotous return
and
it isn’t look
of course
alone
but touch the cooler wind
to smell the gradual passing
to
think on the mortality
but now breaking cycles
of the planetary model rest
to sleep under
into blade risings
with
spring
then who took the time of fall
MidAtlantic
everywhere and that would mean
south
what should be the verdant
growing time


ambassadorial

the orange cat
who
came to say hello then
walk right
in

to look for corners good for
rubbing faces
with new levels
chair
and stool
and bed
on which to leap
as if after
to plant a catly explorer’s
flag

to chirp and then
to cry a
little
signaling the visit done
and for us to go upstairs

to find
the unlocked door through
which
this pumpkin neighbor
had escaped and has come down
to call

a sibling face behind the door
of timider variety

now
waiting for the rascal-story


men’s Bible study

thought
I’d give a try

there were three plus
the proviso that
where
two or more are gathered

one
man I knew
the other not so much
but
we went on together through
the video
and readings
with
discussions on the way

and then
requests for prayer

and I asked for
my niece
and abashedly then
for
myself

and
by the way
we had gelato at the start
while
I heard tales of Italy
from two so much more traveled
than myself
so
I could learn
because they’re nothing like
well
like being there



to insurance companies

thanks
to your insurance
I’m suffering
treatments have been identified
by experts
you won’t let me have
the help

I know I’m just one person
whose numbers move through your
machine
so easy to ignore
while you gear your promotions
through yourselves

over my health

but
goodness
I wish I could feel better
from the summer’s infections
it being fall
now

and
you know
I could feel improved
but
you won’t let me


c l couch


photo by Mauro Lima on Unsplash

All the Green Hours

It’s the witch hour
The day after Saint Pat’s
Though
The ministry of saints goes on

Brigid might be busy
Too
Being the saint
And also something of
Imbolc
The supernal spirit of the land

C L Couch

(for Saint Patrick’s Day late)

Photo by Greg Willson on Unsplash

Orange You Glad

Orange for fall
Or in the sunrise
Or the sunset
Or in something that we’ll see
Through the day
Like
You know
An orange
Or we’ll hear the word
Or pull out a chair
Wrapped in orange cloth
(made
of whatever)
Or we’ll smell upon
Unpeeling
Or taste the actual thing

And
Fall or fruit
We might be reminded
That bright colors
Are a good thing
Or bright
Sounds
Or maybe something else
That’s bright
Like feelings
Or an insight

Not that the muted tones
Don’t matter
For they do
But
Metaphors for brilliance
Are a good thing
Especially
When color is on Earth
So readily
And ethically
Available

C L Couch

Photo by Simone Fischer on Unsplash

(there is a riddle and a pun that in English renders “orange” into “aren’t you”—sorry it most likely doesn’t translate well in other languages)